What is the difference between bacterial and viral meningitis?
Essentially, there are two distinct types of meningitis: bacterial (caused by a bacterium) and viral (caused by a virus). Bacterial meningitis is comparatively rare, but by far the most dangerous and often fatal. How is bacterial meningitis transmitted? Between 10% and 25% of people carry the bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis in the back of the nose and throat region. When they cough and spray those bacteria into other people s breathing space whose immune systems are not producing protective antibodies, the bacteria can easily get into the bloodstream and travel to the meninges, causing bacterial meningitis. The bacteria can not live outside the body for long so they can not be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools buildings or factories. Who is at risk? Anyone can contract bacterial meningitis, but those most at risk are children under five, teenagers, young adults and older people. Most cases are isolated and not related to another case or “outbreak.” How severe
