Please note - this EPG Meningitis Knowledge Centre is for Doctors and other Health Care Professionals.

Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses but may also be caused by fungi and amoebae.  The severity of the disease is dependent on the causal agent.

The main causes of meningitis include:

- Bacterial meningitis:  Many different bacteria may cause meningitis but those with the highest incidence are Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae.

- Neonatal meningitis: Some forms of meningitis predominantly affect neonates, as newborn babies have immature immune systems and so are particularly susceptible to infection.

- Viral: Viral or ‘aseptic’ meningitis is the most common type of meningitis.  It can be very debilitating but is generally far less severe than bacterial meningitis and is rarely fatal.

- Other: Viruses and bacteria are the most common causes of meningitis; however other organisms, such as fungi and amoeba, may also cause this disease, although these cases are extremely rare.

There are several risk factors associated with meningitis and the majority of organisms that cause meningitis are transmitted from person to person via droplets of respiratory or throat secretions.

Meningitis and septicaemia are often difficult to recognise at first as the early symptoms and signs of these two diseases can be mistaken for other, more common diseases. Both are life-threatening conditions which require urgent medical attention and immediate treatment with antibiotics.

Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing meningitis.  However, there is no single vaccine that protects against all forms of the disease.  

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What’s in this Meningitis Knowledge Centre?

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