Recurrent Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis may recur when an unrepaired injury or birth defect allows bacteria to enter the space between the layers of tissue (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. The defect may be in the

The only symptom of a defect in the spinal cord may be a dimple or a tuft of hair on the skin over the spine.

Meningitis due to an injury or a birth defect may take months or years to develop.

Rarely, recurrent bacterial meningitis results from a hereditary (congenital) disorder that affects part of the immune system called the complement system. In such cases, the bacteria most likely to be the cause are Streptococcus pneumoniae or Neisseria meningitidis. Vaccines can help protect against these infections. The pneumococcal vaccine Pneumococcal Vaccine Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci). Pneumococcal infections include ear infections, sinusitis, pneumonia... read more is used to prevent those caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the meningococcal vaccine Meningococcal Vaccine The meningococcal vaccine protects against infections caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (meningococci). Meningococcal infections can lead to meningitis (an infection of tissue... read more is used to prevent those caused by Neisseria meningitidis.

If bacterial meningitis recurs, doctors do a physical examination and sometimes take x-rays or do computed tomography (CT) to check for defects in the skull base and spinal column. They may also do blood tests to check for hereditary disorders of the immune system.

Recurrent bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics and dexamethasone Treatment Acute bacterial meningitis is rapidly developing inflammation of the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and of the fluid-filled space between the meninges (subarachnoid... read more (a corticosteroid).

Recurrent viral meningitis is most often caused by

This type of recurrent meningitis is called Mollaret meningitis. Typically, people have three or more episodes of fever, headache, and a stiff neck. The episodes usually last 2 to 5 days, then resolve on their own. People may appear drowsy or sluggish. Some have seizures, vision problems, or hearing loss.

Mollaret meningitis is treated with the antiviral drug acyclovir. Most people recover fully.

Recurrent meningitis may also be caused by conditions that are not infections (see table Some Causes of Noninfectious Meningitis Some Causes of Noninfectious Meningitis ), such as use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or another drug. If one episode of meningitis was caused by a drug, meningitis may recur if people take the drug again.

Meningitis caused by rupture of a brain cyst may also recur. These cysts are diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and/or spinal cord or, if MRI is unavailable, computed tomography (CT).