Disease and Condition

Bacterial Meningitis
What is it?

Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, called the meninges, and is caused by bacteria. Bacterial meningitis is life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
Who gets it?

Bacterial meningitis is more common in very young children, under the age of five. In adults, it affects more men than women. People at higher risk are those with chronic illnesses, such as ear and nose infections, or illnesses that impair the immune system.
What causes it?

The bacteria that cause most cases of bacterial meningitis are normally present in our environment and can live in our noses and respiratory systems without causing any problems. However, this bacteria can infect the brain by spreading from an infection in a nearby part of the body, such as from a sinus infection, or can be carried to the brain by the blood. It can also enter the brain after a head injury, such as a skull fracture. People with bacterial meningitis are contagious anywhere from two days to two weeks, depending on the type of bacteria that causes the infection.
What are the symptoms?

Early symptoms of bacterial meningitis include high fever, headache, chills, and stiff neck. The neck is so stiff that the patient cannot lower the chin to the chest. Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, confusion, irritability, and a red and purple skin rash. Very young children will be irritable and difficult to feed, extremely sleepy or difficult to wake, will cry inconsolably, and may have seizures. Infants may not have stiff neck. In some cases, especially where treatment is delayed, bacterial meningitis can cause brain damage that results in permanent disabilities and even death.
How is it diagnosed?

Because recovery depends upon quick treatment, a fast diagnosis is extremely important. Your doctor will evaluate your or your child's symptoms, looking for specific signs such as a skin rash and stiff neck. To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor will need to do a lumbar puncture, also known as a spinal tap, to withdraw some cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and check for a bacterial infection. Before the fluid is withdrawn, an area in the lower back is numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, a long, hollow needle is inserted into the spinal canal to withdraw the fluid. If the symptoms are caused by bacteria, the fluid will generally look cloudy. The fluid will also be examined under a microscope and sent to a laboratory where it will be grown (cultured) so the specific bacteria can be identified. Other tests that may be done include blood and urine tests and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head.
What is the treatment?

Your doctor may start antibiotic treatment even before test results are in if he or she strongly suspects bacterial meningitis. Antibiotics are given in a hospital through an intravenous (IV) line, which means it is through a needle inserted in a vein. IV antibiotics are given for up to two weeks. You or your child will also be given fluids to replace those lost through fever and vomiting. Recovery is usually complete, especially in children, if the infection is treated within the first few hours. Because bacterial meningitis is contagious, patients should not resume normal activities until they have approval from their doctor. If you have been exposed to bacterial meningitis, your doctor may give you antibiotics to help prevent the infection.
Self-care tips

Because immediate treatment is so important to recovery, seek medical treatment for yourself or your child as soon as you observe any symptoms of bacterial meningitis, especially high fever combined with headache, lethargy, and stiff neck. If you or your child has bacterial meningitis, you should wash your hands frequently to avoid passing the infection on to others. Do not share food or eating utensils, and avoid contact with bodily fluids, such as saliva. Children should routinely be immunized with the Hemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, which can help prevent a common type of childhood meningitis. There is also a vaccine available that can prevent some forms of meningitis. This is commonly given to people who live in areas where there are epidemics of bacterial meningitis.


This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.