Types Of Meningitis
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the linings that surround and protect the brain. It can be caused by many different organisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Due to the vast majority of microbes that can cause Meningitis, we have included here the the main types of the disease that are most prominent within the UK.
The types of Meningitis have been divided into twelve sections. Please use the 'Quick Jump Menu' below to read briefly about a specific type. If you would like to read about each type in more detail you will find a link in each section. Alternatively, use the menu on the right to go to the relevant page and find out more about each type of Meningitis:
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Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening infection. It is a term used to describe two major illnesses – meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). These can occur on their own or, more commonly, both together. It can strike at any age, but most cases occur in babies and young children. The next most vulnerable group are teenagers and young adults.
Most people will make a good recovery, but meningococcal disease requires very fast medical treatment, as around 7% of cases will result in death and 15% of those affected can be left with severe and disabling after-effects.
The following downloadable fact-sheet, produced by The Meningitis Trust provides very useful and detailed information about the disease and would certainly be worth looking at:
Click
here or on the PDF to download the fact-sheet
You can also click here to find out more about Meningococcal Meningitis on this website.
Pneumococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection.
Most cases occur in babies and young children under 18 months of age.
Most people will make a good recovery but pneumococcal meningitis requires
very fast medical treatment, as around 20% of cases
will result in death and 25% of those affected can be left with severe
and disabling after-effects.
However, a routine vaccine is available to
help prevent pneumococcal disease in the UK, and the Department of Health
and Children have announced that it will be introduced in Ireland in
2008.
The following downloadable fact-sheet, produced by The Meningitis Trust provides very useful and detailed information about Pneumococcal Disease and would certainly be worth looking at:
Click
here or on the PDF to download the fact-sheet
You can also click here to find out more about Pneumococcal Meningitis on this website.
Hib meningitis is caused by the bacterium Haemophilus
influenzae type b. This type of meningitis is usually seen in babies
and children under the age of four.
The introduction of a Hib vaccine in the UK and Ireland in 1992 has
significantly reduced the number of cases and this type of meningitis
is now rarely seen. Click here to find out more
about HiB Meningitis.
GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL (GBS) MENINGITIS:
This is the main cause of meningitis in newborn babies. GBS bacteria can cause septicaemia, meningitis and pneumonia. Up to 90% of babies who get this disease survive and a recent study found that half of those who recovered from GBS disease had no significant after-effects. GBS bacteria are carried by at least 30% of people and are usually harmless. Click here to find out more about meningitis caused by the GBS bacteria.
Certain strains of these bacteria can cause meningitis, especially in newborn babies, and people of any age who have particular health problems. It is a much more important cause of meningitis in developing countries. Many other similar bacteria cause meningitis in the same way, but these are more rare. Click here to find out more about meningitis caused by E Coli.
This form of meningitis occurs mainly in babies, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems. It can be passed from mother to foetus during pregnancy or labour. When illness occurs very soon after birth, the most common problem is pneumonia and respiratory distress. Meningitis mainly occurs in babies who develop illness 2 or 3 days after birth. Late-onset infection may also occur through contact with other infected infants or adults who handle the baby. Very few cases now occur each year in the UK and Ireland, largely due to successful education campaigns about the dangers of eating unpasteurised milk products or contaminated pate, poultry or shellfish in pregnancy. The disease can be very serious, with a death rate of about 30%. Click here to find out more about meningitis caused by Listeria.
The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis usually begins by infecting the lungs, but in about 2% of cases the bacteria travel via the bloodstream to the meninges and cause TB meningitis. It develops much more slowly than other bacterial forms of meningitis and can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
The following downloadable fact-sheet, produced by The Meningitis Trust provides very useful and detailed information about TB Meningitis and would certainly be worth looking at:
Click
here or on the PDF to download the fact-sheet
You can also click here to find out more about TB Meningitis on this website.
This is a very rare form of meningitis caused by salmonella bacteria. Click here to find out more about Salmonella Meningitis.
Some forms of meningitis particularly affect new-born
babies. The most common causes are Group B streptococcus (Streptococcus
agalactiae) and E.coli bacteria. Although these types of meningitis
are rare, fatality rates can be as high as 20%. The risks are higher
for premature babies, or those born after a long or difficult labour.
To find out more about Neonatal Meningitis refer to the pages about
GBS Meningitis and E.Coli
Meningitis.
Some fungi can occasionally cause meningitis, but the
disease is very rare. It usually occurs when the immune system has been
affected by disease, e.g. HIV infection, or by drug therapy. Fungal
meningitis often develops slowly and can be difficult to diagnose and
treat. Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans are examples of
fungi that can cause meningitis. Click here
to find out more about Fungal Meningitis.
Viral meningitis is usually a mild disease but it can
make people very unwell. Many thousands of cases occur each year, mostly
affecting babies and children. Although most people will make a full
recovery some are left with serious and debilitating after-effects.
The following downloadable fact-sheet, produced by The Meningitis Trust provides very useful and detailed information about Viral Meningitis and would certainly be worth looking at:
Click
here or on the PDF to download the fact-sheet
You can also click here to find out more about Viral Meningitis on this website.
There are other rarer types of meningitis. Click
here to find out more.