Meningitis is the generic name given to inflammation of the meninges, membranes that cover the central nervous system. Meningitis can have several causes (infectious, toxic, traumatic, neoplastic infestation, autoimmune). Bacterial infections caused by meningococcus, haemophilus, pneumococcus or by tuberculosis bacteria are severe and contagious.
The main symptoms of bacterial meningitis are high fever, nuchal rigidity, intense headache, vomiting and sometimes convulsions. The disease should be treated with antibiotics.