Encephalitis and meningitis are rare but serious conditions that can occur suddenly, can be life threatening, and can cause lasting damage.

Meningitis & Encephalitis

About encephalitis and meningitis

What is meningitis?

(Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord)

Meningitis is een ontsteking van de vliezen die om de hersenen en het ruggenmerg liggen. Hersenvliesontsteking kan worden veroorzaakt door een bacterie of door een virus. Virale hersenvliesontsteking komt vaker voor dan de bacteriële variant. In de volksmond wordt het ook wel nekkramp genoemd, ook al is hier niet altijd sprake van.

After meningitis, people may continue to experience effects that differ from one individual to another. The severity also varies from person to person.

Bacterial meningitis
Een bacteriële ontsteking wordt veroorzaakt door één van de drie bacteriën: meningokok, pneumokok of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). Deze bacteriën zitten (onschuldig) in de neuskeelholte. Bij een lagere weerstand kunnen de bacteriën zich vermeerderen en verspreiden via de bloedbaan. Dit kan bloedvergiftiging veroorzaken, vooral bij de meningokokbacterie. Als de bacterie via de bloedbaan in de hersenen en hersenvliezen terechtkomt, kan dit een hersenvliesontsteking veroorzaken. De bacterie kan bij snel handelen met antibiotica worden gedood. 

Viral meningitis
The virus enters the body from outside, usually during a cold or infection of the airways. Meningitis can also develop after an infection in the stomach, intestines, or lungs. With viral meningitis, people are often less ill than with the bacterial form. Unlike bacterial meningitis, antibiotics do not help. With some viruses, such as the herpes virus, a doctor can prescribe an antiviral medicine. For most viruses, however, this does not work and the body must clear the virus itself. This usually takes one to two weeks. This form is not often life threatening. However, it can leave you very weakened and may cause long lasting symptoms.

What is encephalitis?

(brain infection)

In encephalitis, the brain itself is inflamed. The nerve cells or the white matter of the brain is directly damaged. Encephalitis is usually caused by viruses, sometimes by bacteria, or by an attack from the body’s own immune system, known as autoimmune encephalitis. The most common cause is the cold sore virus, also known as the herpes simplex virus. It is not exactly known why herpes simplex causes encephalitis in some people. Other viruses can also cause encephalitis, but these are rarer.

A reaction of the immune system can also be a cause, such as NMDAR encephalitis.

Facts and Figures

Belangrijke cijfers en feiten Nederland

Meningitis en/of Encefalitis

3.000 – 5.000

gevallen per jaar

10 - 15

gevallen per dag

Bacteriële Meningitis

1.000 - 1.500

gevallen per jaar

20%

overlijdt

Virale Meningitis

1.000 - 1.500

gevallen per jaar

1%

overlijdt

Encephalitis

500 - 750

gevallen per jaar

1 - 2

gevallen per dag

Andere vormen van Meningitis of Encefalitis

500 - 750

gevallen per jaar

1 - 2

gevallen per dag

Aantal kinderen onder de 2 jaar met Meningitis of Encefalitis

900 - 1200

gevallen per jaar

5% - 10%

overlijdt

Causes

  • Meningitis
    Encephalitis
    Infection
  • Virus
    • Herpes simplex
    • Integer
    • Herpes simplex
    • Japanese
  • Bacteria
    • Meningococci
    • Pneumococci
    • Group A streptococci
    • Group B streptococci
    • Tuberculosis (TB)
    • Hibernation
    • Listeria
    • E. coli
    • Listeria
  • Fungus
    • Cryptococci
    • Aspergillus
    • Cryptococci
    • Aspergillus
    Autoimmune
    • Anti-NMDA receptor
    • Anti-LGI1
    • Anti-GAD
    • Caspr2

Symptoms

Recognizing the first signs

De eerste symptomen van meningitis of encefalitis kunnen plotseling ontstaan en in het begin op griep lijken. Het is belangrijk om alarmsignalen vroeg te herkennen. De ziekte kan zich snel ontwikkelen en snel verergeren. Let vooral op een combinatie van koorts, hoofdpijn en veranderingen in gedrag of bewustzijn.

Image
icon
  • Fever
    Fever
  • Vomiting
    Vomiting
  • Headache
    Headache
  • Sleepiness
    Sleepiness
  • Neck stiffness
    Neck stiffness
  • Skin rash
    Skin rash
  • Sensitivity to light
    Sensitivity to light
  • Confusion
    Confusion
  • Seizures
    Seizures
A sense that something is not right

Alongside medical symptoms, an inner alarm signal can indicate that something is wrong, even if you cannot quite explain what it is. You know your child or partner best.

If something does not feel right, trust that feeling. Pay attention to changes in behavior, alertness, or condition, and contact a doctor or emergency care immediately if something seems wrong. Insist on a referral to hospital if you feel it is needed.

In the media

RTL News
Ingeborg lost her daughter to meningococcal disease: “Mum, I don’t feel very well”
France Today
Meningitis outbreak in France: 34 cases and a large-scale vaccination campaign
RTL News
Risk of a British meningococcal outbreak on the European mainland is low
NOS
Number of cases from meningococcal outbreak rising, British youths queuing for vaccine
Amsterdam UMC
Vici grant awarded to neurologist Matthijs Brouwer for study into brain infections
AD
Meningitis is rare, but can be very dangerous: 'See a doctor if you have this symptom'
AD
Meningococcal outbreak among British students
RTL News
Luka died from meningococcal B
NOS
Faster test to detect life-threatening bacterial meningitis
NPO3
Lindsey lost her one-year-old daughter to meningitis: “The GP advised paracetamol”
EenVandaag
Number of meningococcal deaths rising dramatically
Omroep Brabant
Coen and Devany suddenly lost their daughter: ‘Our world fell apart’
Bruzz
ULB student died of meningitis
AD
Seven young children have died; paediatricians warn of dangerous bacteria
Right to Left
Parents fail to recognise deadly meningitis: ‘We thought it was just a mild flu’
Rijnmond.nl
Boy (13) died following hospital errors: ‘Healthcare providers were misled’
Marriage
Rock guitarist Jeff Beck (78) died after meningitis
VRT
17-year-old boy died from meningitis
Nu.nl
Sammie (1) died of meningitis
Dutch Daily Newspaper
“A quick jab and Sammie (1) would still be alive”
Omroep Brabant
‘It was hell on earth’, mother of deceased student calls for meningococcal vaccination
Parents of Today
Baby died of meningitis