An inflammation of the brain or membranes of the nervous system, meningitis is a potentially deadly disease that comes in two main forms: one caused by a virus and one caused by a bacteria.

This continuing series explores different diseases to show the science behind how disease-causing organisms affect the body. The books in this series examine various microbiological scourages that have affected humans as well as the steps that have been taken to identify, isolate, prevent, and eradicate them. Each title outlines the history of the disease, highlighting how improvements in prevention and treatment have affected the disease's impact on the world population.