Naija Glitz health with prince .=meningitis,causes and symptoms

Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meninges). See also: *. Aseptic meningitis *. Meningitis - Gram-negative *. Meningitis - H. influenzae *. Meningitis - meningococcal *. Meningitis - pneumococcal *. Meningitis - staphylococcal *. Meningitis - tuberculous Causes, incidence, and risk factors The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually get better withouttreatment. However, bacterial meningitis infections are extremely serious, and may result in death or brain damage, even if treated. Meningitis may also be causedby: *. Chemical irritation *. Drug allergies *. Fungi *. Tumors Types include: *. Aseptic meningitis *. Cryptococcal meningitis *. Gram negative meningitis *. H. influenza meningitis *. Meningitis due to cancer (carcinomatous meningitis) *. Meningococcal meningitis *. Pneumococcal meningitis *. Staphylococcal meningitis *. Syphilitic aseptic meningitis *. Tuberculous meningitis Acute bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency, and requires immediate treatment in a hospital. Viral meningitis is milder and occurs more often than bacterial meningitis. It usually develops in the late summer and early fall, and often affects children and adults under age 30. Most infections occur in children under age 5. Most viral meningitis is due toenteroviruses, which are viruses that also can cause intestinal illness. Many other types of viruses can cause meningitis. For example, viral meningitis can be caused by herpes viruses,the same virus that can causecold sores and genital herpes (although people with cold sores or genital herpes are not at a greater risk of developing herpes meningitis). Recently, West Nile virus , spread by mosquito bites, hasbecome a cause of viral meningitis in most of the United States. Symptoms Symptoms usually come on quickly, and may include: *. Fever and chills *. Mental status changes *. Nausea and vomiting *. Sensitivity to light ( photophobia ) *. Severe headache *. Stiff neck (meningismus)..stay healthy,share with friends and loved ones..thanks