How do you know if you have meningitis? What is meningitis? What’s it caused by?

How do you catch it? How do you treat it? Can I stop myself getting it?

What is meningitis?

Meningitis means swelling and inflammation of the lining round your brain. This lining is inside your head and down your spinal cord - the bit of your brain that runs down inside your back bone. The lining is called the meninges.

What’s it caused by?