Meningitis causes inflammation of the surrounding protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord. If not treated properly, this condition can be fatal. It is believed that meningitis is caused by a virus or a bacterium but there are cases where meningitis develops due to a certain medication, illness, and injury. Based on the cause for the development of the disease, meningitis can be grouped into five types.

The symptoms of all types of meningitis are similar with a few differences. Also, the treatment and severity of the illness differs based on the cause that has been diagnosed. Therefore, identifying the type of meningitis a person is suffering from is essential to provide the appropriate treatment.

Various types of meningitis include the following:

1. Parasitic meningitis
Naegleria fowleri, a parasite, is the main source for primary amebic meningoencephalitis also abbreviated as PAM. This is a very rare form of meningitis that causes an infection in the brain and advances rapidly. On average, it takes between one to twelve days. There were around thirty diagnosed cases of primary amebic meningoencephalitis in the country between 2003 – 2012. Usually, in most cases, the symptoms are displayed within seven days after the person has been affected by the condition.

The symptoms include confusion, poor attention, loss of balance, hallucinations, and seizures.
The parasite Naegleria fowleri has been found all over the world in freshwater sources, like hot springs, rivers, and lakes. They have also been found in industrial discharged water, water heaters, and swimming pools that are treated poorly. This parasite then enters the system via the nasal passage, traveling to the brain. This type of meningitis is not contagious; hence, it is not transferred from one individual to the other in contact.

2. Fungal meningitis
This is also another rare type of meningitis that develops when the fungus gets into the bloodstream. Any person can develop this type of meningitis but those who have a weak immune system are subject to higher risk. This type of meningitis is caused due to inhalation of fungal spores from bird droppings or contaminated soil. The treatment options include high doses of antifungal drugs that need to be administered to the patient over long courses mostly via an IV in the hospital. A person’s immune system and the type of fungus determines the course of treatment.

3. Non-infectious meningitis
Similar to the above-mentioned types of meningitis, this form is also not contagious. It mostly develops as an outcome of some medicines, brain surgery, injury of the head, lupus, or cancer.