There arevaccinesto prevent some types of spinal meningitis.
In some cases, spinal meningitis will resolve on its own.
This article explains what spinal meningitis is, including the symptoms, causes, diagnoses, and treatments.
Charday Penn / Getty Images
Charday Penn / Getty Images
How Do You Get Spinal Meningitis?
The most commontype of spinal meningitisis viral meningitis.
Other types are bacterial, parasitic, fungal, amoebic, and noninfectious.
Viral Meningitis
A virus causes the most common bang out of meningitis.
After infection, death can occur rapidly, sometimes as quickly as just a few hours.
Those who recover may have residual disabilities, including brain damage, learning disabilities, or hearing loss.
Parasitic Meningitis
Parasitic meningitis is much less common than viral or bacterial meningitis.
It more commonly affects animals than people.
In humans, it usually is due to eating contaminated food or an infected animal.
There are usually fewer than eight cases of amoebic meningitis per year in the United States.
Fungal Meningitis
Fungal meningitis is rare and usually affects people with compromisedimmune systems.
This is especially concerning in young children who may be unable to describe what they are feeling.
Knowing the signs can help you seek treatment before the symptoms become severe.
Treatment options include the following:
What Is the Survival Rate for Spinal Meningitis?
The prognosis for most people who get meningitis is positive.
However, it is very dependent on the key in of meningitis someone has.
Early treatment is the best way to ensure a good prognosis.
For example, bacterial meningitis can be deadly within days after the onset of symptoms.
Without antibiotic treatment, the prognosis is fatal.
In addition, delayed treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities.
The rarest pop in, amoebic meningitis, is usually fatal even with treatment.
Summary
Spinal meningitis is inflammation of the brain and spinal cord due to an infection.
Types of meningitis include viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and noninfectious.
Symptoms typically include headache, fever, and neck stiffness.
Some cases can be fatal, while others resolve on their own.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Bacterial meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Parasitic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Amebic meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Fungal meningitis.
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MeningitisNow.Signs and symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers.
