How is meningitis contracted?

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It depends on whether you are concerned about viral meningitis or bacterial meningitis. Some forms of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (i.e., coughing, kissing). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

Viral meningitis is caused by any of a number of different viruses, many of which are associated with other diseases. About half of the cases in the United States are caused by common intestinal viruses. Occasionally, children with mumps or herpes virus infection develop viral meningitis. Mosquito-borne viruses also cause some cases each year. In many cases, a specific virus cannot be identified. The way people get viral meningitis depends on the virus involved. Some viruses that cause viral meningitis are spread by person-to-person contact; others are spread by insects. Fortunately, very few people who become infected with these viruses actually develop meningitis.

Other Answers:
it is usually a virus.and like a virus it can be gotten from others.

http://www.dhpe.org/infect/Bacmeningitis.html.
I had this 3 years ago. And lived.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is caused by either bacteria or virus. Less common causes include fungi, protozoa, and other parasites.
They are contracted like every day illnessess. The infection can start anywhere, including in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or urinary system, but the most common source is the respiratory tract. It may get resolved like any other normal everyday illnessess, but if one is immunocomprimised or children -- they spread to the meninges from an infection in another part of the body. In some cases of bacterial meningitis, the bacteria spread directly to the meninges from a severe nearby infection, such as a serious ear infection (otitis media) or nasal sinus infection (sinusitis). Bacteria may also enter the central nervous system after severe head trauma or head surgery.
People with less competent immune systems, such as the very young or those whose immune systems have been compromised by disease, are more at risk for all types of meningitis.

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How is meningitis contracted?

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