Chemical Meningitis: Symptoms, Causes & Inflammation

Chemical meningitis results from any of a wide variety of foreign irritants causing inflammation to the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord. It can occur, for instance, after surgical procedures such as a shunt or catheter which introduce chemotherapy agents, contrast agents or steroids.

Inflammation

• Although meningitis is usually caused by a bacteria, virus or fungus, symptoms of chemical meningitis are similar, and the disorder's primary symptom is inflammation.

All-Body Symptoms

• Chemical meningitis inflammation can cause a decrease in all sensory and motor function throughout the entire body.

Nuchal Rigidity

• Neck stiffness, with the technical term nuchal rigidity, is a main symptom of chemical meningitis. Involuntary muscle spasms make movement difficult, particularly moving the neck forward.

Fever

• High fever is common in chemical meningitis as in other types. A study published in a 2001 issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases compared patients with infectious and non-infectious meningitis. The authors found that fevers with chemical meningitis rarely rose above 103 degrees, and did not last as long as with infective meningitis.

Additional Symptoms

• Also common with all types of meningitis, including the chemical form, is severe headache. Some people experience nausea and vomiting as well.