Meningitis
Meningitis: Introduction
Meningitis is a serious infection of one of the membranes that surrounds the brain.
This section addresses what conditions meningitis can be a symptom or complication of.
For the symptoms of meningitis itself, see meningitis.
» Review Causes of Meningitis:
full list
Causes of Meningitis:
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Meningitis.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
See full list of 154
causes of Meningitis
» Review Causes of Meningitis:
full list
Causes of Types of Meningitis:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Meningitis:
Review causes of more specific types of Meningitis:
See full list of 13
types for Meningitis
Meningitis: Symptom Checker
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Meningitis, as listed in our database.
Visit the Symptom Checker,
to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
Symptom Checker
Symptom Checker
See full list of 2432
Symptom Checker combinations related to Meningitis
Meningitis Treatments
Review information on Meningitis Treatments.
Meningitis: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
Products, offers and promotion categories available related to Meningitis:
Causes of General Symptom Types
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
Causes of Similar Symptoms to Meningitis
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Meningitis:
Diagnostic Guides for Meningitis
Medical Books Excerpts
Read excertps from published book sections related to Meningitis
from the following published medical books
for more detailed information about Meningitis.
Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Meningitis
Medical Books Excerpts
- HEADACHE
- "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
- [ read ]
- HEADACHE
- "Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "A Pocket Manual of Differential Diagnosis" (1999)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)
- [ read ]
- Meningitis
- "Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition)" (2005)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Photophobia
- "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
- [ read ]
- Kernig's sign
- "Alarming Signs and Symptoms: Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Photophobia
- "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "The Diagnostic Approach to Symptoms and Signs in Pediatrics" (2006)
- [ read ]
- Headache
- "Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms" (2007)
- [ read ]
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Meningitis: Self Assessment Tools
Meningitis: Undiagnosed Conditions
Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:
Meningitis: Research Related Doctors & Specialists
- Neurology (Brain/CNS Specialists):
- Stroke & Vascular Specialists:
- Senior Health Specialists (Geriatrics):
- more specialists...»
Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:
Misdiagnosis and Meningitis
Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who
had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness
because he suffered from sudden...read more »
Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for
a patient to show mental decline to dementia.
Whereas this can, of...read more »
Mild traumatic brain injury often remains undiagnosed: Although the symptoms
of severe brain injury are hard to miss,
it is less clear for milder injuries, or even those causing a mild concussion diagnosis.
The condition...read more »
MTBI misdiagnosed as balance problem: When a person has symptoms
such as vertigo or dizziness, a diagnosis of brain injury may go overlooked.
This is particularly true of mild...read more »
Brain pressure condition often misdiagnosed as dementia: A condition
that results from an excessive pressure of CSF within the brain is often...read more »
Post-concussive brain injury often misdiagnosed: A study found that soldiers who had
suffered a concussive injury in battle often were misdiagnosed on their return.
A variety of symptoms can occur in post-concussion syndrome and these were not being correctly...read more »
Children with migraine often misdiagnosed: A migraine often fails to be
correctly diagnosed in pediatric patients.
These patients are not the typical migraine sufferers, but migraines can also occur in children.
See misdiagnosis of migraine or ...read more »
FUO in children: Fever of unknown origin in
children is usually transient and subsides within 4- 5 days. Majority of them
are of viral aetiology. The common causes of fever in children differ from that
of adults. Some of...read more »
Subarachnoid hemorrhage mimics migraine: Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs due to spontaneous bleeding in the
subarachnoid space. It presents with severe headache usually over the back,
vomiting, and neck stiffness and severe cases...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Meningitis
Meningitis: Related Rare Diseases
Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:
Diagnostic tests for Meningitis:
Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Meningitis. Some of these are listed below :
- Physical investigations
- General inspection noting level of consciousness and irritability
- Examine skin for rash. Any rash may be present with meningitis. A petechial (pinpoint sized hemorrhagic) rash is characteristic of meningococcal meningitis
- Temperature
- more tests...»
See full list of 24
diagnostic tests for Meningitis
Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Meningitis.
Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing
your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information
you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
- How long have you had meningitis symptoms? - to help determine the causative agent. Acute bacterial meningitis had a sudden onset with rigors and high fever. Viral meningitis is almost always a benign, self limiting condition lasting 4-10 days. Headache may follow for some weeks. Tuberculous and Cryptococcal meningitis causes a chronic meningitis commencing with a vague headache, tiredness, loss of appetite and vomiting.
- What symptoms of meningitis do you have? - meningitis can present in many ways, depending partly on the organism responsible. Possible symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck on moving chin toward the chest, irritability, rash, drowsiness, vomiting, seizures and sometimes psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations.
- What is the age of the person? - more difficult to diagnose meningitis in children e.g. symptoms in infants include fever, pallor, vomiting, lethargy, refusing to feed, bulging fontanelle, neck stiffness. The most likely organism causing meningitis (and thus antibiotic of choice) is influenced by age e.g. E.Coli or beta-hemolytic streptococci in neonates; Haemophilus influenza, meningococcus or tuberculosis in young children; meningococcus in young adults; pneumococcus in older adults; pneumococcus, listeria, tuberculosis, gram negative organisms or Cryptococcus in elderly or immunocompromised.
- Have you got a bacterial infection else-where? - Bacterial cause (especially Staphylococcus aureus) is usually secondary to a pus infection elsewhere e.g. abscess.
- Risk factors for meningitis? - e.g. crowding, poverty, malnutrition, head injury within the previous 2 weeks, recent sinusitis, recent mastoiditis, recent otitis media (middle ear infection), AIDS, previous splenectomy (removal of the spleen), diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, pneumonia, sickle cell disease, cancer.
- more questions...»
See Diagnosis Checklist for Meningitis (24
listings)
Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse
your condition.
The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Meningitis) may include:
- Rash? - Any rash may be present with meningitis. A petechial (pinpoint sized hemorrhagic) rash is characteristic of meningococcal meningitis.
- Ear pain? - may suggest meningitis as complication of middle ear infection. Pneumococcal infection is the most likely cause in this situation.
- Pleuritic chest pain (chest pain that is worsened by deep breathing, coughing)? - may suggest Enterovirus as a cause of meningitis.
- Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure? - e.g. headache, drowsiness, vomiting, seizures. This may be a result of the meningitis. If these symptoms are present must perform a CT Brain before a lumbar puncture.
- Symptoms of sarcoidosis? - e.g. shortness of breath, cough, tiredness, joint pain, skin symptoms occur in 10% of cases and may include purple or brown plaques or nodules on face, nose, ears and neck in chronic sarcoidosis. Peripheral lymph node enlargement occurs in 5% of people. May be complicated by meningitis.
- more symptoms...»
See Diagnosis Checklist for Meningitis (24
listings)
Home Diagnostic Testing and Meningitis
Home medical tests possibly related to Meningitis:
Stories from Users for Meningitis
Real-life user stories relating to Meningitis:
Symptom specific forums:
The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards
relate to Meningitis or relevant symptoms:
Videos for Meningitis
Each year you hear about small outbreaks of meningitis. It is highly contagious and sometimes fatal. Learn why the classic symptoms of a high fever...
Streptococcus pneumoniae--also known as pneumococcus--is a common bacteria that often causes ear infections in children, but can also lead to...
"I authorize the release of any medical or other information necessary to process this claim." Do you recognize these words? You should, if...
Sexual contact can sometimes result in problems. An unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases may be some of those consequences. But by...
See full list of 4 related videos
Patient Surveys for Meningitis
Causes of Meningitis listed in Disease Database:
Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible
causes of Meningitis as a symptom include:
See full list of 154
causes of Meningitis
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Medications or substances causing Meningitis:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Meningitis as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 3
medications causing Meningitis
Article Excerpts about Meningitis
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (called meninges) that
surround the brain and spinal cord.
(Source: excerpt from NINDS Encephalitis and Meningitis Information Page: NINDS)
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord
and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer
to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a
viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused
by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness
and the treatment differ. Viral meningitis is generally less severe
and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis
can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss,
or learning disability. For bacterial meningitis, it is also important
to know which type of bacteria is causing the meningitis because
antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting
other people. (Source: excerpt from Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD)
Meningitis
is an illness in which there is inflammation of the tissues that cover
the brain and spinal cord. Viral or aseptic meningitis, which is
the most common type, is caused by an infection with one of several types
of viruses. Meningitis can also be caused by infections with several
types of bacteria or fungi. (Source: excerpt from Viral (Aseptic) Meningitis: DVRD)
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (called meninges) that
surround the brain and spinal cord.
(Source: excerpt from NINDS Encephalitis and Meningitis Information Page: NINDS)
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord
and the fluid that surrounds the brain. People sometimes refer
to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a
viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused
by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness
and the treatment differ. Viral meningitis is generally less severe
and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis
can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss,
or learning disability. For bacterial meningitis, it is also important
to know which type of bacteria is causing the meningitis because
antibiotics can prevent some types from spreading and infecting
other people. (Source: excerpt from Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD)
Meningitis
is an illness in which there is inflammation of the tissues that cover
the brain and spinal cord. Viral or aseptic meningitis, which is
the most common type, is caused by an infection with one of several types
of viruses. Meningitis can also be caused by infections with several
types of bacteria or fungi. (Source: excerpt from Viral (Aseptic) Meningitis: DVRD)
Definitions of Meningitis:
Meningitis: , pl. meningitides Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord.arachnoiditis, leptomeningitis. SYN: cerebrospinal meningitis. [mening- + G. itis, inflammation]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane and adjacent subarachnoid space. (On-line Medical Dictionary)
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the meninges (the tissues that surround the brain or spinal cord) usually caused by a bacterial infection; symptoms include headache and stiff neck and fever and nausea
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Inflammation of the meninges.
- (Source - CRISP)
Organs affected by Meningitis:
The list of organs typically affected by Meningitis may include, but is not limited to:
Detailed list of causes of Meningitis
The list below shows some of the causes of Meningitis mentioned in various sources:
See full list of 154
causes of Meningitis
How Common are these Causes of Meningitis?
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases,
not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Meningitis.
Of the 154
causes of Meningitis that
we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
- 3
causes are "very common" diseases
- 4
causes are "common" diseases
- 1
causes are "uncommon" diseases
- 1
causes are "rare" diseases
- 40
causes are "very rare" diseases
- 120
causes have no prevalence information.
See the analysis of the prevalence of 154
causes of Meningitis
Conditions listing symptoms: Meningitis:
The following list of conditions
have 'Meningitis' or similar
listed as a symptom in our database.
This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause
of any symptom.
A
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
... cryptococcal meningitisAnthrax
... meningitisArbovirosis
... meningitisAusrian triad
... meningitisB
Bartonella infections
... meningoencephalitisBartonellosis
... meningoencephalitisBehcet's Disease
... recurrent meningitis, meningitisBiotinidase deficiency
... acute meningoencephalitisC
Capnocytophaga
... meningitisChagas disease
... meningoencephalitis, Meningoencephalic inflammationCommon Variable Immunodeficiency
... meningitisComplement component deficiency
... meningitisComplement receptor deficiency
... meningitisCongenital herpes simplex
... meningitisCryptococcosis
... meningoencephalitis, meningitisCurrarino triad
... recurrent meningitisD
Drug-resistant Streptococcus Pneumoniae Disease
... meningitisE
Enterovirus antenatal infection
... aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, meningitisG
Group B Streptococcal Infections
... meningitisH
Hemophagocytic reticulosis
... meningoencephalitisHemophilus influenzae B
... meningitisI
Immunodeficiency due to interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4 deficiency
... meningitisL
Listeriosis
... meningitisListeriosis meningoencephalitis
... meningitis symptomsLyme disease
... meningitis symptomsLymphocytic Choriomeningitis
... meningitisLysteria monocytoigeneses meningitis
... meningitisM
Melioidosis
... MeningitisMeningococcal disease
... meningitisMyiasis
... MeningitisO
Opportunistic infections
... MeningitisP
Pneumococcus
... Pneumococcal meningitisPolio
... meningitisPrimary amoebic meningoencephalitis
... MeningitisPulmonary Anthrax
... meningitisR
Rhodococcus equi
... meningitisRubella congenital syndrome
... meningoencephalitisS
SCID
... meningitisSerratia
... meningitisSevere combined immunodeficiency, T- B+ due to JAK3 deficiency
... meningitisSimian B virus infection
... meningitisSmith disease
... meningoencephalitisStreptococcal Group B invasive disease
... meningitisSystemic candidiasis
... meningitisT
The clap
... meningitisTick-borne encephalitis
... meningoencephalitis, meningitisTorulopsis
... meningitisTrypanosomiasis, east-African
... meningoencephalitisV
Vibrio infection - Vibrio cincinnatiensis
... meningitisVogt-Koyanagi-Harada Syndrome
... meningoencephalitisW
West African Trypanosomiasis
... chronic meningoencephalitis
Conditions listing complications: Meningitis:
The following list of conditions
have 'Meningitis' or similar
listed as a complication in our database.
The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear,
and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant.
This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause
of any symptom.
A
American mountain fever
... aseptic meningitisB
Bacteremia
... meningitisBehcet's Disease
... meningoencephalitis, meningitisBlastomycosis
... meningitisBrucellosis
... meningitisC
Campylobacter fetus infection
... meningitisCampylobacter food poisoning
... meningitisCampylobacter jejuni infection
... meningitisCellulitis
... meningitisCoccidioidomycosis
... meningitisColorado tick encephalitis
... aseptic meningitisCryptococcosis
... meningitis, Cryptococcal MeningitisE
Edwardsiella tarda infection
... meningitisEhrlichiosis
... meningoencephalitisEikenella corrodens infection
... meningitisEncephalitis
... meningitisEnteroviruses
... viral meningitisEpiglotitis
... meningitisF
Familial Mediterranean fever
... meningitisG
Gnathostoma hispidum infection
... meningitisGnathostoma spinigerum infection
... meningitisGroup A Streptococcal Infections
... meningitisGroup B Streptococcal Infections
... meningitisH
Hand, Foot, & Mouth Disease
... viral meningitisHIV/AIDS
... meningitis, cryptococcal meningitisI
Invasive candidiasis
... meningitisL
Labrynthitis
... meningitisLeptospirosis
... meningitisListeriosis
... meningitisLyme disease
... aseptic meningitis, meningitisLymphocytic Choriomeningitis
... aseptic meningitis, meningoencephalitis, meningitisM
Mastoiditis
... meningitisMeasles
... meningitisMelioidosis
... meningitisMiddle ear infection
... meningitisMountain fever
... aseptic meningitisMountain tick fever
... aseptic meningitisMumps
... meningoencephalitis, meningitisN
NOMID syndrome
... aseptic meningitisP
Pasteurella multocida
... meningitisPneumococcus
... Pneumococcal meningitisPolio
... meningitisPulmonary Anthrax
... meningitisR
Rat-bite fever
... meningitisS
Streptococcal Group B invasive disease
... meningitisStreptococcal Infections
... meningitisT
Togaviridae disease
... aseptic meningitisToxoplasmosis
... meningoencephalitisTrichinosis
... meningitisTuberculosis
... meningitisTyphoid fever
... meningitisW
Weil's syndrome
... meningitisWestern equine encephalitis
... aseptic meningitis
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Causes of Meningitis Based on Risk Factors
This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Meningitis based
on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:
Travel - has the patient travelled recently?
Diabetes - history of diabetes or family history of diabetes?
Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Meningitis?
Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Meningitis, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :
What are the alternative names for Meningitis:
Meningo-encephalitis, Arachnoiditis, Encephalitis, Leptomeningitis
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Classifications of Meningitis:
Subtypes of Meningitis:
Meningoencephalitis (13 causes), Aseptic meningitis (1 cause)
Medical Conditions associated with Meningitis:
Brain symptoms (938 causes), Head symptoms (6066 causes)
Symptoms related to Meningitis:
Encephalitis (38 causes), Brain symptoms (938 causes), Spine symptoms (571 causes), Neck rigidity, Hydrocephalus (160 causes), Raised intracranial pressure (34 causes), Brain tumours, Metastases to brain, Headache (2016 causes), Photophobia (296 causes), Phonophobia, Lumbar puncture, Disseminated intravascular coagulation, Petechial rash, Sepsis (12 causes), Low blood pressure (341 causes)
Medical articles on signs and symptoms:
Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:
These general medical articles may be of interest:
See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
News Archives for Meningitis
Medical news articles related to Meningitis include:
Source: HealthDay News
Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Meningitis:
More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:
» Next page: Causes of Meningitis
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