Developer site: The content shown here is test data.

MyEClinic
MyEClinic
Health Dictionary AI Health Chat Find an Online Doctor
A serene Zen garden with raked sand and smooth stones, symbolising clarity and calm

Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

Back to skin conditions

Bacterial meningitis classification

Introduction

Overview

Overview

There is no specific classification system for bacterial meningitis. However, it may be classified according to the age group, causative agent, clinical presentation, severity and duration of illness. Prognosis of bacterial meningitis may depend on the severity of the disease and causative agent.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Classification

Classification

Bacterial meningitis may be classified according to the age group, causative agent, severity, and duration of disease.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

According to age group
Age group Etiological agent Clinical features
Neonates and infants[6][4]
  • Group B streptococcus
  • E coli
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
Adults[6][4]
Elderly[6][4]
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Neisseria meningitides
  • Hemophilus influenza type b
  • Hypothermia or hyperthermia
  • Altered mental status
  • Decreased oral intake
  • Disrupted sleep
  • Neck stiffness
According to severity of the disease
Mild
  • Early diagnosis and treatment
  • Responds to medical treatment
  • Typical clinical presentation
  • Immunocompetent
  • Good prognosis
Moderate
  • May present late with typical or atypical symptoms
  • May present with complications
  • Variable response to treatment
Severe
  • Presents with complications or prolonged illness
  • Immunocompromised
  • Common in extremes of age
  • Delayed diagnosis and treatment
  • Surgical treatment may be required in addition to medical treatment
  • Increased morbidity and mortality
According to the duration of disease
Acute[4][5]
  • Lasts less than 4 weeks
  • Patient acutely ill
  • Seeks medical treatment early due to sudden deterioration
Chronic [2][3]
  • Lasts more than 4 weeks
  • Gradual deterioration of patient
  • Prolonged history of atypical symptoms
  • Common in older patients
Recurrent[1][8]
  • Multiple episodes which lasts less than 4 weeks
  • History of incompliance to medication
  • Common in young children
  • Anatomical defect or immunosuppression may be the underlying cause
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lieb G, Krauss J, Collmann H, Schrod L, Sörensen N (1996). “Recurrent bacterial meningitis”. Eur J Pediatr. 155 (1): 26–30. PMID 8750806.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Boos C, Daneshvar C, Hinton A, Dawes M (2004). “An unusual case of chronic meningitis”. BMC Fam Pract. 5: 21. doi:10.1186/1471-2296-5-21. PMC 524513. PMID 15469610.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Baldwin KJ, Zunt JR (2014). “Evaluation and treatment of chronic meningitis”. Neurohospitalist. 4 (4): 185–95. doi:10.1177/1941874414528940. PMC 4212414. PMID 25360204.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Brouwer MC, Tunkel AR, van de Beek D (2010). “Epidemiology, diagnosis, and antimicrobial treatment of acute bacterial meningitis”. Clin Microbiol Rev. 23 (3): 467–92. doi:10.1128/CMR.00070-09. PMC 2901656. PMID 20610819.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Mace SE (2008). “Acute bacterial meningitis”. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 26 (2): 281–317, viii. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2008.02.002. PMID 18406976.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html Accessed on 4th Jan, 2017
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Thigpen MC, Whitney CG, Messonnier NE, Zell ER, Lynfield R, Hadler JL; et al. (2011). “Bacterial meningitis in the United States, 1998-2007”. N Engl J Med. 364 (21): 2016–25. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1005384. PMID 21612470.
  8. ↑ Wang HS, Kuo MF, Huang SC (2005). “Diagnostic approach to recurrent bacterial meningitis in children”. Chang Gung Med J. 28 (7): 441–52. PMID 16231527.


Template:WikiDoc Sources

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]