Types and causes of meningitis

Meningitis is usually caused by viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis, followed by bacterial meningitis. Rarer types of meningitis include chemical and fungal meningitis. The most common types of bacterial meningitis are meningococcal, pneumococcal, TB, group B streptococcal and E.coli.

Find out about the treatments and support we offer for all types of meningitis:

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis and can cause life-changing after-effects
Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis needs rapid admission to hospital and urgent treatment with antibiotics
Meningococcal disease

The term meningococcal disease is used to describe meningitis and septicaemia
Pneumococcal meningitis

Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus pneumoniae
TB meningitis

TB meningitis is caused when infection begins elsewhere in the body, usually the lungs
Group B streptococcal

Group B streptococcal disease is the main cause of meningitis in babies
Neonatal meningitis

Neonatal meningitis is split into two groups: ‘early onset’ or ‘late onset’
E. coli meningitis

E. coli are the second most common bacterial cause of neonatal meningitis
Fungal meningitis

A rare cause of meningitis, which usually occur when the immune system has been affected by other diseases
Rare types of meningitis

There can be many rarer causes of meningitis, commonly bacteria and viruses