Bacterial Meningitis is a kind of inflammation, which affects the protecting membrane of spinal cord and brain. Meningitis is caused by the infection of bacteria, virus, microorganisms, fungi and parasites. Meningitis is most of the time life threatening as it affects brain and spinal cord. It is very necessary for the patient to know whether meningitis is caused due to the virus or bacteria, so that this inflammation can easily be treated by knowing how severe the illness is. It has been found that bacterial meningitis is more severe as compare to viral because it may cause hearing loss, learning disabilities and brain damage. If someone is having bacterial meningitis then it is important for him to know the type of bacteria, which has caused this inflammation. Before 1991, Haemophilus influenzae of b-type was responsible for causing bacterial meningitis.

Nowadays, Hib vaccine is given to the kids in order to protect them from such life taking infections, this vaccine helped a lot in reducing the number of meningitis cases. However, today Neisseria meningitides and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the main cause of bacterial meningitis. There are many symptoms of bacterial meningitis but headache and high fever are some general symptoms that are mostly found in infected people. Such symptoms sometime take several hours to develop or they may take three or four days to emerge.

Others symptoms of bacterial meningitis are vomiting, nausea, problem while looking in intense light, sleepiness and confusion. In small infants and newborn babies, symptoms of headache, fever and neck stiffness are mostly absent or are hard to detect. Such small babies appear inactive, slow, and irritable if they have bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can infect people of any age group. People who have bacterial meningitis sometimes find inability to abide loud sound; this condition is sometimes called as phonophobia. Rashes may accompany bacterial meningitis. Early diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is necessary, so that it can be treated as early as possible. If people find above symptoms then it is necessary to see doctor right away. Doctors usually diagnose the bacterial infection by taking a sample of fluid from spinal cord. A special kind of needle is used to collect fluid from the spinal canal.

Proper and early diagnosis helps the doctor in selecting correct antibiotics for the patient. Suitable antibiotic treatment of bacterial meningitis help in reducing the threat of dying up to 15-20%, even though the menace is high between the elder people. It would be good for the people to overcome from this inflammation as early as possible by knowing symptoms of bacterial meningitis, as it is infectious. Bacteria easily spread from one person to another with the help of respiratory and secretions that are produced by throat. Coughing and sneezing are the main cause of bacterial meningitis.

Nowadays, with the advancement of science and technology it is easy to prevent bacterial meningitis through vaccination, which also protects human beings from other type of infections. There are many vaccines which are helpful in protecting people from different types of infection that are caused by bacteria e.g. PPSV, PCV13 vaccines.