3 Types of Meningitis to Know About
Meningitis is caused when the meninges or the brain lining becomes swollen and inflamed. The condition typically triggers symptoms like a headache, fever, and a stiff neck. Most cases may be due to a viral infection, underlying medical conditions, or the side effect of some medicines. Some cases can improve in a few weeks without treatment, but others can be life-threatening and require emergency treatment. The following are three types of meningitis that are important to know about: 1. Viral meningitis This is the most common type of meningitis. It can affect both grown-ups and kids and may be caused by various types of viruses. The most common ones are herpes simplex virus, chickenpox virus, shingles virus, and enterovirus; of these, enterovirus is the most likely to cause this condition. Symptoms of viral meningitis will be almost the same as bacterial meningitis and these include headaches, fever, photophobia, and stiffness in the neck. Rashes may occur, but this is not the same as the rash found in bacterial meningitis. Viral meningitis is never life-threatening. 2. Bacterial meningitis Bacterial meningitis is not as common as viral meningitis. However, like viral meningitis, it can affect both kids and grown-ups. There are different types of meningitis-causing bacteria, and the more common ones are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae.