Meningitis
GMJ News knowledge hub · last reviewed August 2026 · Georgian Medical Journal
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Meningitis can kill within 24 hours of symptom onset: it causes an estimated 238,000 deaths per year, and 1 in 5 survivors has lasting disability — hearing loss, brain damage or limb loss from septicaemia (WHO). Effective vaccines exist against the leading bacterial causes — meningococcal, pneumococcal and Hib — and have transformed the epidemiology in vaccinated populations. The WHO Defeating Meningitis by 2030 roadmap targets a 70% reduction in deaths and elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics.
Key messages
Kills in hours
Bacterial meningitis can kill within 24 hours — every hour of antibiotic delay increases mortality by 7-10%. It is one of the few infectious diseases where speed is measured in hours not days.
Defeat Meningitis 2030
WHO's roadmap (WHA73) targets: eliminating bacterial meningitis epidemics; reducing vaccine-preventable cases by 50% and deaths by 70%; improving survivor quality of life.
Vaccines work
Effective vaccines exist against the main bacterial causes: meningococcal (A, B, C, W, Y), pneumococcal and Hib. MenAfriVac eliminated group A epidemic meningitis from the African meningitis belt.
1 in 5 survivors disabled
~20% of bacterial meningitis survivors have permanent disability — most commonly sensorineural hearing loss (affects 30% of pneumococcal meningitis survivors).
Non-blanching rash is an emergency
A purpuric (non-blanching) rash in a febrile patient signals meningococcal septicaemia — a medical emergency requiring immediate antibiotics. Absence does not exclude meningococcal disease.
Viral meningitis is different
Viral meningitis — mainly from enteroviruses — is far more common than bacterial and generally self-limiting. It does not require antibiotics. Laboratory distinction is essential.
Key statistics
Meningitis deaths globally (thousands) 2000-2019 — GBD/WHO
Source: Global Burden of Disease / WHO. Decline driven by PCV and Hib vaccination scale-up.
Glossary of key terms
Latest GMJ coverage
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Frequently asked questions 12 Q&A — structured for Google featured snippets and AI discovery
Knowledge hub: guidelines, conventions and reports
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Related health topics
VaccinesChild healthSepsisAMRPneumoniaNewborn health
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