Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

meningitis, aseptic
See 
meningitis, viral.
meningitis, bacterial
Inflammation of the
meninges due to a bacterial infection. Haemophilus
influenzae type B (HIB) was formerly the leading
cause of bacterial meningitis before the 1990s, but
childhood vaccinationshave reduced the occur-
rence of meningitis due to H. influenzae.
Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningi-
tidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis.
High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common
symptoms of bacterial meningitis in anyone over the
age of 2 years. In newborns and small infants, the
classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiff-
ness may be absent and the infant may only appear
to be inactive, irritable, vomiting, or feeding poorly.
A sample of spinal fluid obtained via lumbar punc-
ture can be examined to confirm the diagnosis and
fully identify the bacteria involved and their antibi-
otic sensitivity. Treatment is started as early as pos-
sible, in the hospital. Appropriate antibiotic
treatment has reduced the risk of death from most
common types of bacterial meningitis to below 
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meningitis, bacterial
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15 percent, although the risk is higher among the
elderly.
meningitis, benign recurrent aseptic
See
meningitis, Mollaret.
meningitis, cryptococcal
Inflammation of the
meninges due to infection with the fungal organism
Cryptococcus neoformans, which is found mainly in
dirt and bird droppings. Most people have been
exposed to this organism at some time, but normally
it causes no problems. Often associated with AIDS,
cryptococcal meningitis is considered an oppor-
tunistic infection: a disease that emerges most often
when the immune system is compromised in some
way. Diagnosis is made via observation of symptoms,
lumbar puncture, and cryptococcal titre. Treatment
takes place in the hospital and usually consists of
intravenous doses of the antibiotic amphotericin B.
After the infection is under control, patients usually
remain on a maintenance dose of fluconazole
(brand name: Diflucan) to prevent reinfection.