Mild cases of viral meningitis do not require hospitalization. Stages and progress Meningitis occurs when there is an infection somewhere in the body such as in the sinuses or in the mastoids, the cavities around the ear. The disease-causing organisms then travel through the bloodstream to the meninges and cause a secondary, more serious, infection. The meninges are the three layers of protective membranes that line the spinal cord and the brain . Meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, may come on quickly or gradually depending on the cause.
Bacterial meningitis comes on suddenly and progresses rapidly if untreated.
Even today with antibiotics, some people who recover suffer some permanent brain damage. Prevention Because of the variety of disease organisms, vaccines against meningitis are of limited use and offer protection for only a short time.