What increases my risk for meningitis?

Both bacterial and viral meningitis are contagious, so having contact with someone whose meningitis is due to these factors increases your risk. Also, failure to get certain vaccinations will increase your risk or the risk to your child. Fungal meningitis is not contagious and is picked up in the environment, usually by people whose immune system is suppressed. HIV and other illnesses that suppress the immune system increase your risk for fungal meningitis. Also, you are more susceptible to the non-infectious forms of meningitis if you are having brain surgery or have certain types of cancer.

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Both bacterial and viral meningitis are contagious, so having contact with someone whose meningitis is due to these factors increases your risk. Also, failure to get certain vaccinations will increase your risk or the risk to your child. Fungal... More

Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine answered:

Rarely, some organisms that cause meningitis can be passed to people from rodents and insects. The most common of these are arboviruses (including the St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses), which are transmitted through dust and food contaminated by the urine of infected mice, hamsters, and rats.

Genetics: Some individuals may inherit the tendency to get meningitis. If they come in contact with organisms that can cause the infection, they may be more likely to get infected.

Gender: Males get meningitis more often than females. The causes are not known.

Age: In general, babies, young children, young adults, and the elderly are at highest risk of getting meningitis.

Crowded living conditions: People in camps, schools, and college dormitories are more likely than others to get meningitis caused by organisms that can spread easily from one person to another.

Daycare: Children who attend day care centers are more likely than other children to get meningitis caused by organisms that are easily spread through stool or contaminated hands or water.

Exposure to insects and rodents: Individuals who live in or visit areas of the world where insects or rodents carry organisms that cause meningitis risk getting the disease.

Non-vaccinated individuals: Not getting the mumps (MMR), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and pneumococcal conjugate (PCV) vaccinations before age two or being an older adult who has not gotten the pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV) immunization and/or does not have a working spleen (part of the body's immune system), places the individual at greater risk for developing meningitis.

Travel: Individuals traveling to the "meningitis belt" in sub-Saharan Africa are at greater risk of developing meningitis and should receive the meningococcal vaccine.

You should read product labels, and discuss all therapies with a qualified healthcare provider. Natural Standard information does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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More Related Answers from Natural Standard, The Authority on Integrative Medicine

Rarely, some organisms that cause meningitis can be passed to people from rodents and insects. The most common of these are arboviruses (including the St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses), which are transmitted through dust and food... More

Healthwise answered:

A risk factor is anything that makes you more likely to get a certain disease. Risk factors for meningitis include:

Genetics. Some people may inherit the tendency to get meningitis. If they come in contact with organisms that can cause the infection, they may be likely to get infected.
Being male. Males get meningitis more often than females.
Crowded living conditions. People in camps, day care centers, schools and college dormitories are more likely to get meningitis.
Being exposed to insects and rodents. People who live in or visit areas of the world where insects or rodents carry germs that cause meningitis risk getting the disease.
Not getting childhood immunizations. People who didn't get shots for mumps, Hib disease or pneumococcal infections before age 2 are more likely to get meningitis.
Being an older adult who hasn't gotten a pneumonia shot.
Not having a working spleen, which is part of the body's immune system.
Travel to areas where meningitis is common. For example, people traveling to the "meningitis belt" in sub-Saharan Africa should get a meningococcal shot.

Medical problems that can increase your risk include:

Having a birth defect of the skull, a head injury or brain surgery.
Having kidney dialysis.
Having other infections, such as upper respiratory infections, mumps, tuberculosis (TB), syphilis, Lyme disease and illnesses caused by herpes viruses.
Having a cochlear implant for severe hearing loss. Studies show that children with cochlear implants have an increased risk for bacterial meningitis.
Being born to a mother infected with an organism that causes meningitis. Viruses such as the enteroviruses and herpes viruses, as well as some bacteria, can be passed from an infected mother to a baby during birth.
Having had meningitis in the past. Some people who have had meningitis are more likely than others to get it again. These include people with birth defects or injuries to the skull and face, impaired immune systems, or unexpected reactions to some medicines.