Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and can be caused by many different organisms, including bacteria, fungi and viruses.

In the UK, the two most common forms of bacterial meningitis are meningococcal disease (caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis) and pneumococcal disease (caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcal bacteria). Both bacteria can also cause septicaemia.

Anyone can get pneumococcal meningitis. However, it is more common in infants and young children under the age of 2 years as their immune systems are not yet fully developed and adults with weakened immune systems.

Bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening, particularly if it is not recognised and treated immediately. It is important to know what the symptoms of meningitis are, particularly in children, and what you should do about it. Meningitis should be treated as a medical emergency because bacterial meningitis can lead to septicaemia, which can be fatal.

Viral meningitis is the more common and less serious type of meningitis. It is mostly found in children and is more common during the summer months. Viral meningitis is rarely life threatening and the majority of people make a full recovery.

Signs and symptoms

Pneumococcal meningitis often arises without septicaemia, making it more difficult to diagnose than other forms of meningitis as patients do not usually develop the rash that healthcare professionals and parents have been educated to look for. Infections often prove to be rapidly fatal, even where appropriate medical treatment is readily available.

Pneumococcal meningitis is among the most serious forms of bacterial meningitis – in terms of causing permanent disability and death. Before the introduction of routine vaccination, pneumococcal meningitis was the UK’s second most common cause of meningitis. In children who survive pneumococcal meningitis in the first year of life, there is a 10-fold increased risk of severe or moderate disability by five years of age.

In adults, data from the US shows that pneumococcal meningitis has a mortality rate of 20-30% despite effective antibiotic therapy and modern intensive care facilities. People who survive invasive pneumococcal infections are often left with severe long-term disabilities. One in three adult survivors of bacterial meningitis have cognitive impairment as a result.

Key points

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges
• There are two main types: bacterial and viral meningitis
• Bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening if not treated immediately
• Viral meningitis is less serious and most people make a full recovery