Meningitis Traumatic

What is meningitis?

**Meningitis** is an inflammatory process that affects the protective membrane of the brain and spinal cord - the brain. This can lead to serious complications and even death if treatment is not started promptly and correctly. With a brain injury, it is also possible to develop meningitis - it is called traumatic meningitis.

Why does meningitis occur with head trauma?

Traumatic meningitis most often occurs when the head hits a hard surface, falls on the head, concussion or contusion of the brain. These factors can damage the lining of the brain and cause infection. The human shell consists of several layers. The top layer is the arachnoid membrane, which is rich in blood vessels and is usually not damaged in most head injuries. However, a shock or impact with a hard surface can damage the layer between the arachnoid membrane and the innermost part of the head, the so-called subarachnoid space (subdural space). The subdural space contains tissue structures that provide support to the brain, such as brain tissue, blood vessels, and the central nervous system (spinal cord). Infection can enter the blood-filled subdural space from damaged systems. The blood clears the site of injury, opening up an even wider area for infection, which is why meningitis is aggressive.

The main causes of brain injury include the following types of injuries: car accidents; falling from a height; gunshot wounds; traumatic brain injuries. Such an injury leads to serious trauma to organ tissue, as well as disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. That is why meningitis that develops against the background of injury is considered a very dangerous condition for human health. This type of disease should be treated in a hospital setting - only in this case the risk of death is significantly reduced.