aetiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

Many organisms may be implicated in the aetiology of meningitis.

These organisms produce a variety of clinical events, including:

  • acute aseptic meningitis - a benign, self limiting condition caused by viruses
  • acute pyogenic meningitis - a potentially lethal condition caused by many bacteria
  • chronic meningitic illness may be produced by organisms such as fungi and mycobacteria and other processes, e.g. tumour cells, contrast media, blood from subarachnoid haemorrhage, and drugs