Avoid Meningitis Mayhem: What You Need To Know

Fungal Meningitis

Fungal meningitis is usually caused by a rare fungus that spreads to the spinal cord via the blood. Anyone can be infected with fungal meningitis; however, it is most common in people with a weakened immune system or cancer. It is one of the most common causes of meningitis in Africa. Unlike viral and bacterial meningitis, fungal meningitis is not spread through contact with an infected person. It develops after a fungus reaches the bloodstream and spreads to another area of the body, such as the brain or spinal cord.

Other Types Of Meningitis

Bacterial and viral meningitis are the most common types; however, other forms of meningitis may occur. These include acute, chronic, parasitic, and amebic meningitis. Parasitic meningitis is a rare condition caused when parasites cause an infection that affects the nervous system or brain. Amebic meningitis occurs when a free-living ameba that lives in warm water called Naegleria fowleri enters the body through the nose and causes an infection in the brain. Other possible causes of meningitis are chemical reactions such as drug allergies, cancer, and inflammatory conditions such as sarcoidosis.