Inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, usually caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. It can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention, especially in bacterial cases.
From Greek 'meninx' meaning 'membrane' and suffix '-itis' meaning 'inflammation.' The term literally describes inflammation of the brain's protective membranes.
Bacterial meningitis can kill within hours, which is why medical students learn 'meningitis until proven otherwise' for any fever with neck stiffness! The classic triad of fever, headache, and neck stiffness only occurs in about 45% of cases, making this disease a master of disguise that keeps emergency physicians on high alert.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.