The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually resolve without treatment. However, bacterial infections of the meninges are extremely serious illnesses, and may result in death or brain damage even if treated. Meningitis is also caused by fungi, chemical irritation or drug allergies, and tumors. Acute bacterial meningitis is a true medical emergency, and requires immediate hospital-based treatment. In the U.S. about 17,500 cases of bacterial meningitis occur each year.
Viral meningitis is milder and occurs more often than bacterial meningitis.
It usually develops in the late summer and early fall, often affects children and adults under 30. Seventy percent of the infections occur in children under the age of 5. Most viral meningitis is associated with enteroviruses, which are viruses that commonly cause stomach flu. Meningitis Please read this Important notice . Please read it.