Brain Infection

• Brain Infection Overview
• Brain Infection Causes
• Brain Infection Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Brain Infection Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Prevention
• Outlook
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Brain Infection Overview

Our brain, the spinal cord, and its surrounding structures could become infected by a large spectrum of germs (that is, microorganisms). Bacteria and viruses are the most common offenders. Parasites, fungi, and others can infect the central nervous system (CNS), although more rarely.

• Location: The infecting germ causes an inflammation of the area invaded. Depending on the location of the infection, different names are given to the diseases.

• Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges—the surrounding 3-layered membranes of the brain and spinal cord, and the fluid it is bathed in, called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

• Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain itself.

• Myelitis actually means a spinal cord inflammation.

• Abscess is an accumulation of infectious material and offending microorganisms within the CNS.

• Type: Organisms may cause bacterial, viral, parasitic, fungal, or prion infections of the central nervous system.

• Usually, viral meningitis causes milder symptoms, requires no specific treatment, and goes away completely without complications.

• Bacterial meningitis is a very serious disease and may result in a learning disability, hearing loss, permanent brain damage, and even death. Viral infections are 2-3 times more common.

• In the US, the overall incidence of bacterial meningitis is estimated to be more than 400 per 100,000 newborn babies, and 1-10 cases per 100,000 adults per year, or 25,000 cases yearly. About two-thirds of all cases are in children. It usually occurs in isolated cases without epidemics. It is more common in males than females and is more likely in late winter and early spring.

• Worldwide, bacterial meningitis is common. It particularly affects the African continent, with regular epidemics in West Africa. In 1996, there were 250,000 cases there, with an estimated 25,000 meningitis-related deaths.