Risk Factors of Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis can happen to anyone at any age. However, infants are at higher risk of developing bacterial meningitis. People of different ages are likely to be affected by different forms of bacterial meningitis.
For example, pneumococcal meningitis is more likely to occur in children ages 2 years and under and people who have weakened immune systems. Meningococcal meningitis is more likely to affect:
- infants under 1 year old
- people with weakened immune systems
- military recruits
- travelers to countries where it is common
- college students
- people who live in dormitories
Other factors that increases the risk include:
- Neurosurgery
- Not having bacterial meningitis vaccination
- Skull fractures
- Abnormality or trauma between the throat and the subarachnoid layer of the meninges
- Cochlear implants
Recurrent bacterial meningitis is possible. However, studies show that 59% of recurrent cases are due to anatomical problems and 36% occur in people with a severely weakened immune system.