Random Laurene Factoid: According to the 1946 U.S. Social Security Administration data, the first name Laurene is not a popular baby girl's name in Ohio. Imagine that, only 5 babies in Ohio have the same name as you in 1946.
Bacteria and viruses are the two main causes of meningitis. The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus, causes meningococcal meningitis. In children and teens, meningococcus is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis. In adults, it is the second most common cause.
Once in the blood, they can reach the meninges, causing meningitis, or other body sites causing other syndromes. Over 1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis are estimated to occur worldwide each year (24). The incidence and case-fatality rates for bacterial meningitis vary by region, country, pathogen, and age group. Without treatment, the case-fatality rate can be as high as 70 percent, and one in five survivors of bacterial meningitis may be left with permanent sequelae including hearing loss, neurologic disability, or loss of a limb .