Meningitis Causes: Understanding Infections and Other Factors

Meningitis can have a variety of causes, including:

- Infections: The most common cause of meningitis is an infection, usually caused by bacteria or viruses. Common infectious agents that cause meningitis include:

- Bacteria: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Listeria monocytogenes.

- Viruses: Enteroviruses, mumps virus, measles virus, and herpes simplex virus.

- Non-infectious: In some cases, meningitis can be caused by non-infectious factors, such as:

- Trauma: Head injuries or other forms of trauma can cause inflammation of the meninges, leading to meningitis.

- Allergies: Severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, can cause swelling and inflammation of the meninges, leading to meningitis.

- Autoimmune disorders: Some autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, can cause inflammation of the meninges, leading to meningitis.

- Cancer: Certain types of cancer, such as leukemia, can spread to the meninges and cause meningitis.

- Medications: Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics, can cause meningitis as a rare side effect.

- Cryptococcus neoformans, or Cryptococcus gattii which can cause cryptococcal meningitis.