11/29/2025
Meningitis causes
‎Infectious diseases (caused by something harmful from outside your body) and noninfectious conditions cause meningitis. Specific causes of each type include:
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‎Bacterial meningitis: Common bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus and Neisseria meningitidis.
‎Viral meningitis: Viruses include non-polio enteroviruses, like group B coxsackievirus and echovirus.
‎Fungal meningitis: Some fungi that can cause meningitis include Cryptococcus neoformans, Coccidioides immitis and Candida.
‎Parasitic meningitis (also called eosinophilic meningitis): Parasites that can cause this include rat lungworm and Baylisascaris procyonis (a roundworm).
‎Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM): NSAIDs and antibiotics are the most common causes of DIAM. But overall, it’s rare.
‎Carcinomatous meningitis: Cancer cells get into your meninges and cause inflammation. It can occur in the advanced stage of any cancer.
‎Post-traumatic meningitis: This can result from brain or head injury.
‎Autoimmune meningitis: Autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are causes.
‎How does someone get it?
‎You can get meningitis in many ways, depending on whether the cause is infectious. You could get it:
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‎From a contagious bacterial or viral illness passed person-to-person
‎From food contaminated with something infectious
‎From fungi in the environment that you breathe in
‎As a complication of noninfectious conditions, like cancer or lupus
‎From a head injury or as a complication of brain surgery
‎As a side effect of a medication
‎Meningitis itself — swelling of the meninges — isn’t contagious. But some of its causes are. Most bacterial and viral causes of meningitis can spread from person to person.
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‎Risk factors
‎Your age, where you live or travel, and certain health conditions can increase your risk of meningitis.
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‎You’re at a higher risk for it if you:
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‎Are under 5 years old or over 65 years old
‎Have a weakened immune system
‎Have a CSF leak
‎Don’t have a spleen
‎Have chronic nose and ear infections
‎Have pneumococcal pneumonia
‎Have alcohol use disorder
‎Have a brain or spinal cord injury or surgery
‎Have sickle cell disease
‎Live in or travel to places where infectious diseases that cause meningitis are common
‎Live in a group setting, like in a college dorm
‎Complications of this condition
‎Complications of meningitis can include:
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‎Hearing or vision loss
‎Behavioral and thinking issues
‎Movement issues
‎Seizures
‎Increased intracranial pressure
‎Buildup of fluid in your brain
‎Damage to the blood vessels in your brain
‎Sepsis