Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
bacterial meningitis
References
Britannica AI Icon

bacterial meningitis

disease
Written by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

Quick Summary

Bacterial meningitis is a serious inflammation of the meninges, the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The most life-threatening forms are caused by bacteria, with Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) being a common culprit. This bacterium can cause meningococcal meningitis, which spreads through respiratory secretions.

Symptoms often mimic influenza, including fever, headache, and stiff neck. While antibiotics have significantly reduced mortality, prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent permanent damage. Vaccines are available for some types of meningococcal meningitis, and antibiotic prophylaxis can be used for close contacts of infected individuals.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. meningococcus
  2. meningitis

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.