La meningitis es una infección caracterizada por la inflamación de las meninges (leptomeninges) que en el ochenta por ciento de los casos es causada por virus, en el quince al veinte por ciento lo es por bacterias y en el resto de los casos se debe a intoxicaciones, hongos, medicamentos y otras enfermedades. Se trata de una afección poco frecuente pero potencialmente letal que puede lesionar el cerebro y ocasionar inconsciencia y lesión de otros órganos.La meningitis progresa con mucha rapidez por lo que el diagnóstico temprano y el tratamiento precoz son importantes para prevenir secuelas graves y evitar la muerte. Cualquier persona puede contraer meningitis pero la frecuencia de la enfermedad es especialmente elevada en niños y personas inmunodeprimidas. Los síntomas más frecuentes son dolor de cabeza, rigidez de nuca, fiebre, fotofobia (intolerancia anormal a la luz) o fonofobia (intolerancia a los sonidos) y trastornos de la conciencia. A menudo, en particular en niños pequeños, solo se presentan síntomas inespecíficos como irritabilidad y somnolencia. La existencia de erupción cutánea puede indicar una forma particular de meningitis, como la asociada con meningococemia.

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Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The most common symptoms are fever, headache and neck stiffness. Other symptoms include confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises. Young children often exhibit only nonspecific symptoms, such as irritability, drowsiness, or poor feeding. If a rash is present, it may indicate a particular cause of meningitis; for instance, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria may be accompanied by a characteristic rash. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs. Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation's proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore, the condition is classified as a medical emergency. A lumbar puncture diagnoses or excludes meningitis. A needle is inserted into the spinal canal to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), that envelops the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is examined in a medical laboratory. Some forms of meningitis are preventable by immunization with the meningococcal, mumps, pneumococcal, and Hib vaccines. Giving antibiotics to people with significant exposure to certain types of meningitis may also be useful. The first treatment in acute meningitis consists of promptly giving antibiotics and sometimes antiviral drugs. Corticosteroids can also be used to prevent complications from excessive inflammation. Meningitis can lead to serious long-term consequences such as deafness, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, or cognitive deficits, especially if not treated quickly. In 2013 meningitis occurred in about 16 million people worldwide. This resulted in 303,000 deaths – down from 464,000 deaths in 1990. With appropriate treatment the risk of death in bacterial meningitis is less than 15%. Outbreaks of bacterial meningitis occur between December and June each year in an area of sub-Saharan Africa known as the meningitis belt. Smaller outbreaks may also occur in other areas of the world. The word meningitis is from Greek μῆνιγξ méninx, "membrane" and the medical suffix -itis, "inflammation".

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