Is meningitis serious?

Meningitis is a relatively serious disease. It is an infectious disease of the central nervous system, and the pathogens include various microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The severity of meningitis lies in its potential to cause severe symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and even increased intracranial pressure, impaired consciousness, and epileptic seizures, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Furthermore, meningitis is relatively difficult to treat, and if not treated promptly, it can develop into serious complications such as cerebral edema and brain herniation, potentially leading to death. In addition, meningitis may also result in long-term aftereffects that impact quality of life, such as post-epileptic seizures and intellectual impairments. Patients with meningitis should actively undergo treatment and receive antiviral, anti-tuberculosis, or anti-inflammatory therapies according to the specific cause, in order to reduce the severity of the disease and the risk of sequelae.