Viral
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Viral meningitis
Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis and, although rarely life-threatening, can make people very unwell
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Mollaret's meningitis
Mollaret’s meningitis is a rare type of chronic, recurrent, lymphocytic meningitis, often caused by infection with Herpes Simplex virus type 2
Bacterial
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Bacterial meningitis
Bacterial meningitis needs rapid admission to hospital and urgent treatment with antibiotics
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Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a term used to describe two major illnesses – meningitis and septicaemia* (blood poisoning) - which can occur on their own or more commonly, both together
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Pneumococcal meningitis
Pneumococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infectious disease that causes inflammation of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord
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TB meningitis
TB (Tuberculous) meningitis is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria
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Group B streptococcal meningitis
Group B streptococcal meningitis (GBS) disease (meningitis, septicaemia and pneumonia) is the main cause of meningitis in babies
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Neonatal meningitis
Neonatal meningitis is split into two groups: ‘early onset’ or ‘late onset’, depending on the time elapsed between birth and disease
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E. coli meningitis
E. coli are the second most common bacterial cause of neonatal meningitis
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Hib meningitis
Hib meningitis is a life-threatening infectious disease that causes inflammation of the layers that surround the brain and spinal cord
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Listeria meningitis
Listeria bacteria, found in foods such as unpasteurised soft cheeses, pate and shellfish, can sometimes lead to serious and life-threatening problems including meningitis and septicaemia
Other causes
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Fungal meningitis
Fungal meningitis is very rare. The symptoms are similar to those of other types of meningitis, but usually appear more gradually
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Chemical meningitis
Chemical meningitis is disease that is not caused by infectious agents, such as bacteria or viruses, but by a certain substance or chemical
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Parasitic meningitis
Certain parasites can cause meningitis; however, this is extremely rare
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Cryptococcal meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is caused by a type of fungus which is found in soil and bird droppings
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Non-infectious meningitis
Infectious diseases are not the only causes of meningitis
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Malignant or carcinomatous meningitis
Malignant or carcinomatous meningitis is a serious condition in which cancer cells spread to the meninges