Introduction Meningitis is a nervous system disease that arises when the membranes that covering it get inflamed as a consequence of viral or bacterial infection. In some instances, the membranes can developed a reaction to certain drugs and they respond by getting inflamed. This essay seeks to offer an exhaustive analysis of the disease, starting covering the symptoms, prevention and treatment. To this end a number of scholarly sources shall be consulted to serve as primary guides to the discussion. At the end of the discussion, recommendations on what needs to be done to increase awareness of the disease will be presented. Symptoms Meningitis manifests in a number of different ways depending on the age and sometimes immunity status of the affected individual. For toddlers, meningitis initially causes the baby to have difficulty in breathing. The baby also cries in a high-pitched moan as well and cannot feed properly. In addition, when the child’s skin is put under pressure, it develops visible purple or red spots which do not disappear even after the pressure is withdrawn B (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4). Some affected babies’ skins also turn pale in addition to the development of the unnatural spots. In some instances, the baby becomes stiff and it becomes difficult to wake him or her up. Older children, when attacked with meningitis, initially start complaining of a stiff neck, back ache, severe migraines and pain in the joints. As the disease progresses the child start feeling constantly drowsy and confusion kicks in. Later sensitivity to light kicks in followed by clammy hands and feet. Like in babies, children affected with Meningitis develop visible red and purple spots on their skins when pressed down, with the spots staying on even with the release of pressure. Heavy panting and shivering is also a symptom of advancing meningitis. In adults, meningitis initially presents in the form of severe headaches and a stiffening of the neck. The patient also grows very sensitive to light and noise. In the advanced stage, the patient goes through a high fever accompanied by heavy sweating and sometimes a difficulty in breathing. Transmission Meningitis is transmitted through a number of ways depending on the infecting agent. The various transmission paths are detailed below: Mother to child-During delivery, some of the bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis can be transmitted from the mother to the baby. This is especially possible when proper midwifery standards are not maintained leading to the child getting contaminated with blood from the mother (Saez-Llorens and McCracken 2143). Amniotic fluid is usually sterile and can keep the baby safe as it move out of the birth canal. The child has a limited time to pass through the canal without getting any contamination after the fluid washes over the path. However, in some instances it may get trapped necessitating an episiotomy to the mother. The blood arising from this lateral cuts can get into the baby’s system. Some forms of bacteria can also manage to get into the blood stream of the child. Fecal exchange- Fecal matter is the primary conduit of enteroviruses and many forms of bacteria. Individuals can pick some of the bacteria leading to meningial inflammation through contamination with infected fecal matter. These causal agents can get into the circulation and nervous system enterically (Saez-Llorens and McCracken 2146). Improper midwifery practices can