(thing) by Hooverdirt Fri Mar 16 2001 at 1:47:26
Meningitis causes:

Bacterial
  • Haemophilus (Haemophilus influenzae): this type of infection is generally considered to be eliminated due to early vaccination of babies.
  • Pneumococcal / Meningococcal: the most common causes in the bacterial type of meningitis. Both bacterias are common to the human body, and reside in the back of the throat and nose.
  • Streptococcus: The main cause of blood infection and meningitis in newborns, pregnant women, elderly people and adults with diabetes. The infection can be deadly to babies.

Fungal
  • Cryptococcus: Cryptococcus is an environmental organism. It is found throughout the world and human infections happen after inhalation of small fungal cells spread on air currents. In people with a weakened immune system it survives and infects other parts of the body.

Viral
    Viral meningitis is more common than the bacterial variant but is generally less serious. The most common are the enterovirusses (found in sewage/faeces/poluted water).

Other
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