Meningitis

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The meninges are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). They act as a barrier between the central nervous system and the rest of the body, acting as an extra barrier to infection.

Meningitis is infection of the meninges. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses. There are approximately 3500-4000 reported cases per year in the UK. Bacterial meningitis is a less common form of the disease. It is always serious and severe. Viral meningitis is more common but normally less serious.

Bacterial meningitis is caused by several different types of germs, which live naturally at the back of the nose and throat in one in ten people and can be spread by close prolonged contact, coughing, sneezing and kissing. Only in some do the germs overwhelm the bodies defences and cause meningitis. The bacteria cannot live long outside the body so cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings or factories and only certain types of bacteria (meningococcal C) spread more rapidly in crowded areas. Incubation for bacterial meningitis is between 2 and 10 days.

Viral meningitis is a less severe illness but can still be very debilitating, and very rarely, can progress through headache, fever and drowsiness to deep coma. The incubation period for viral meningitis can be up to 3 weeks.