Meningitis is defined as an inflammation of the meninges, which are the thin membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. There are several variants of the disease which include bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and non-infectious. Bacterial meningitis is serious in most cases. Many people recover completely, but for those who are less fortunate it can cause brain damage leading to learning difficulties and hearing loss. There are many different pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis. The most common here in the United States are Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria can be transmitted through direct contact with the nose and throat secretions of an infected person. The main reservoirs of these bacteria are humans but it can also be the environment, mainly the soil. To determine whether a person has bacterial meningitis, blood and cerebrospinal fluid are collected and analyzed in a laboratory. Once the presence of the bacteria is confirmed, they are then cultured to determine what type of bacteria are present. This allows doctors to know how to treat the disease. The discovery of meningitis dates back to the 1800s. The first evidence linking bacterial infection to the cause of meningitis was written by Austrian pathologist Anton Weichselbaum. It was he who isolated the causative agent of cerebrospinal meningitis. He called this bacterium Diplococcus intracellularis meningitidis. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear rapidly over several days. They normally develop within 3-7 days of exposure to the bacteria. Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis can come on suddenly and include: head... center of paper... holes. This puts you at greater risk of exposing yourself to bacteria from the dirt of others around you. Pregnancy can also be defined as a risk factor. The risk of contracting listeriosis is an infection caused by the listeria bacteria. This bacterium can also cause meningitis. If you have listeriosis, your unborn baby is also at high risk of contracting meningitis. The last risk factor I will talk about is a weakened immune system. Some factors that can cause a weakened immune system are: AIDS, alcoholism, diabetes and some medications. When these factors weaken your immune system, your body cannot prevent infection. In fact, it is very easy to contract meningitis with the above health problems. In conclusion, meningitis is not something to be taken lightly. Stay vaccinated and take preventive actions because this disease is widely spread and can be fatal.