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Meningitis is infection of the meninges which are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.

In the UK, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis is infection with the meningococcal bacteria. There are five main groups - A, B, C, W135 and Y of which only B and C are commonly seen in the UK. Other bacteria including the pneumococcal can also cause meningitis. Viral meningitis, which can be caused by several different viruses, is more common but usually less severe.

Some bacteria that cause meningitis can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning); this is when the bacteria enter the bloodstream. This is most often seen with meningococcal meningitis, causing meningococcal septicaemia.

The majority of meningococcal infections occur in infants under five years of age, with a peak incidence in those under one year of age. A smaller, secondary peak in incidence is seen in young adults aged between 15 – 19 years of age. Meningococcal disease is fatal in approximately 10% of cases, although more deaths are caused by septicaemia than by meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis is very serious. In babies and young children, death can occur in a matter of hours if left untreated. Urgent medical treatment with antibiotics and appropriate hospital management is essential for someone with bacterial meningitis. Antibiotics are also recommended for close contacts to prevent further spread of infection.
Pneumococcal meningitis can affect any age group, but those at most risk are babies and young children under 18 months of age. The elderly and people with conditions that affect their immune systems are also at increased risk. Viral meningitis is a less severe illness, antibiotics are ineffective and treatment is based on alleviating symptoms. Most people make a full recovery within one to two weeks, although occasionally there may be long term problems such as hearing or memory impairment.

In the UK all forms of meningitis and meningococcal disease are a Notifiable Disease and therefore if a doctor suspects that a patient has meningitis they are required by law to report it. In Wales during 2009, there were (provisionally) 77 notifications of meningitis, 34 of which were meningococcal, 17 pneumococcal and 17 viral. There were 49 notifications of meningococcal septicaemia (without meningitis) in Wales. An important method of controlling bacterial meningococcal disease is by maintaining high levels of immunisation among vulnerable groups or whole populations.