Meningitis

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Meningitis is an infection of certain membranes and tissues of the nervous system. Those are called meninges (singular:Meninx). Their function is to protect the central nervous system. Most often, this infection is caused by microorganisms, like viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The most common cause of meningitis are viruses, followed by bacteria. Meningitis is a life-threatening condition. It affects all age groups.

[edit] Signs of meningitis

The following can be signs of meningitis.

  • High fever, sometimes with chills.
  • Very bad headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light or sound.
  • drowsiness or confusion
  • Twitching
  • Sleepiness
  • Sore throat
  • delirium (esp. in children)
  • Seizures (in 20-40% of patients)
  • Stiff neck (in less than 50% of the cases, but may be a tell-tale sign)