Types of Meningitis
There are basically four different types of meningitis. In general, they are classified by their cause: viral (virus), bacterial (bacteria), fungal (fungus), or amoebic (amoeba).
Viral meningitis is the most common of the types of meningitis, and is typically less serious than bacterial (which has a high fatality rate). The most common viral attack is typically from the coxsackie and echovirus (two viruses that are part of a group called enterovirus – which is the group that contains the polio virus). Less common causes include complications due to measles, polio, or chickenpox viruses.
Types of Meningitis
Next, is the most serious of the types of meningitis: bacterial meningitis. There are various types of meningitis causes by bacteria, including: meningococcal (common, and caused by a bacteria living in the back of the nose/throat), pneumonial (caused by the pneumoniae virus), and TB (caused by tuberculosis, usually affecting the lungs first, then blood stream).
Fungal meningitis is rare among the types of meningitis, and is caused by Cryptococcus (a type of fungus, usually living in the soil). This condition commonly affects persons with immune deficiencies, such as people with HIV, AIDS, or leukaemia.
Amoebic meningitis is the least common among the types of meningitis; however, although rare, it is a very serious condition often leading to death. The root cause is an infection brought about by living amoeba in pools of fresh, 30oC water.
Treatment for each of the types of meningitis varies, but since bacterial is the most common (which people can be vaccinated for) penicillin is typically the most widely used treatment.
