Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective
covering that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Most commonly
caused by a viral infection, it may also result from infection
with bacteria or fungus. Bacterial meningitis is usually more
severe than viral meningitis and can lead to hearing loss,
learning disabilities, and brain damage. If not treated
promptly, it can be deadly. This revised edition of Meningitis
contains the most current information on the causes, spread,
treatment, and prevention of the disease, as well as new
illustrations and new case studies. Updates cover recent
meningitis outbreaks, which are a persistent problem in schools
and on college campuses, and a recently approved method of
diagnosing meningitis more quickly. - Meningitis: Attack on the
Nervous System - Bacterial Meningitis - Viral Meningitis - Other
Types of Meningitis - Meningitis as a Silent Epidemic -
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Full-color photographs and
illustrations. Sidebars. Further reading. Refe