In rare cases,
meningitis can be caused by conditions or organisms
other than viruses and bacteria. These include:
- The fungi Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans. Cryptococcus neoformans causes meningitis in people who have
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Candida albicans usually causes infections in the mouth and the
vagina.
- The organisms that cause syphilis (Treponema pallidum) and Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi).
- Certain amoebas (Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba) found in contaminated
water and soil. If these amoebas enter the body and are not treated quickly,
they can cause serious and possibly fatal meningitis.
- Certain
parasites carried by rats and found in contaminated
food.
- Some medicines. Why some people develop meningitis when they
take certain medicines is not known. Meningitis goes away when the medicine is
stopped:
- Carbamazepine
(Tegretol)
- Co-trimoxazole (Bactrim, Septra,
TMP-SMX)
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs (for
example, ibuprofen or naproxen)
- Levamisole
(Ergamisol)
- Metronidazole (Flagyl)
- Other substances such as
immune globulin, mumps vaccine, and rubella
vaccine.
