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Meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease.  With proper diagnosis and prompt care, however, meningitis can be treated and cured.  Common symptoms of meningitis include fever, stiff neck, headaches, irritability, sensitivity to light (photophobia) and lethargy, a decrease in consciousness.

Both viral and bacterial meningitis involve an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain.  The inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors.  Bacterial and viral infections are the most common causes, although some forms of meningitis can be caused by parasites including protozoa and fungi.  The vast majority of meningitis cases result from infections that are themselves contagious, and are caused by common viruses and bacteria.  Personal hygiene is your best defence against diseases, including meningitis.  Certain types of the disease can also be prevented through a range of vaccines.

A meningitis diagnosis begins with a basic physical examination.  If the disease is suspected, laboratory tests will be conducted to make an accurate diagnosis and to pinpoint the exact cause.  The laboratory tests may include a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, to collect a sample of spinal fluid.  The fluid will be examined for signs of inflammation and cultured for the organism(s) that may have caused the infection.  After the diagnosis has been confirmed, appropriate treatment must be started as soon as possible.

If a child is suspected to have meningitis, urgent diagnosis is required and, if meningitis is confirmed, treatment must begin right away.  The sooner children are diagnosed and treated, the greater chance they have of making a full recovery.

It is crucial to begin the fight against meningitis, particularly bacterial meningitis, as quickly as possible.  If a meningitis diagnosis is confirmed or even suspected in a child, doctors will begin to administer intravenous antibiotics right away.  The disease is so serious, that treatment must begin even before laboratory test results are confirmed or the exact microorganism causing the infection has been pinpointed.  After the infectious agent has been identified, the antibiotics may be changed to something more appropriate to fight the particular bacteria involved.  Antibiotic treatment may even be discontinued if the patient is found to have viral or some other form of meningitis.

Children with bacterial meningitis will almost certainly be hospitalised, allowing them to be closely monitored around the clock by hospital staff.  While in the hospital, the child may require intensive-care treatment.  The child may be given corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation of the meninges, and will receive fluids to replace those lost to fever, sweating, vomiting and poor appetite. 

Complications caused by bacterial meningitis may require additional treatments.  If the child suffers from seizures, he or she will be given anticonvulsants.  Additional intravenous fluids and medications may be administered to treat shock or low blood pressure.  Supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation may be required if the patient is experiencing difficulty breathing.

A child who has viral meningitis may also be hospitalised, although in less serious cases the child may be released for home care provided he or she is closely monitored.  With the exception of medication for the herpes simplex virus, there are no drugs available to fight viral meningitis, so treatment is usually directed at relieving the child's symptoms.  This includes getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and taking over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve fever and headache.  If the condition of a child recovering at home deteriorates, he or she must be taken to hospital immediately.  Even after a patient has completely recovered from viral meningitis, symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and depression may persist for weeks or even months.

Treatment for fungal meningitis will include anti-fungal therapy and appropriate management.

Some patients recovering from meningitis may require longer-term follow-up treatments.  For example, one of the most common problems resulting from bacterial meningitis is impaired hearing.  Children who have had bacterial meningitis should have a hearing test following their recovery.