Meningitis is a severe inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. Meningitis is mainly caused by a variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Meningitis may be attributed to some few causative agents, but the effects of this disease are at a fifty percent chance of fatality (Mazzola & Kelly-Cirino, 2018). Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis and the least serious in terms of effects. The most common cause of viral meningitis in the U.S. are Enteroviruses like herpes virus, measles, coxsackie, and varicella. Fungal meningitis is a serious and highly fatal form of meningitis especially for people with HIV/AIDS having a CD count of less than 200. Fungal meningitis is also referred to as Cryptococcal meningitis, and may be caused by fungi such as aspergillus and candida.
Also, there is the bacterial meningitis caused by Listeria, Streptococcus pneumonia, E.coli, and hemophillus influenza (Mazzola & Kelly-Cirino, 2018). This is the most common bacteria that affects infants and leads to deaths of children under five years. Among adolescents and middle-aged adults, Meningococcus meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria is the most common and prevalent. It is of vital concern because of its potential for large epidemics, causing severe brain damage and fifty percent of fatalities in untreated cases. Although it is present worldwide, the biggest presence of the disease is in sub-Saharan Africa “meningitis belt” running from Senegal to Ethiopia (Mazzola & Kelly-Cirino, 2018). Neisseria meningitidis also causes a more severe type of bacterial meningitis called meningococcal septicaemia. Among the elderly, Streptococcus pneumonia is the most common causative bacterial agent of meningitis.
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Reference
Mazzola, L., & Kelly-Cirino, C. (2018). Meningitis Diagnostics Use Cases. Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/meningitis/meningitis-diagnostics-use-cases.pdf
