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What Is It?Meningitis is an inflammation of coverings (meninges) of the brain and spinal cord. Most often it is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Other infectious agents such as fungi can also cause meningitis. Rarer causes of meningitis include atypical drug reactions and systemic lupus erythematosus. Viral, or aseptic, meningitis is the most common type. In general, viral meningitis is not directly contagious. Anyone can get viral meningitis, but it occurs most often in children. Many different viruses can cause meningitis; an enterovirus tends to be the usual culprit. Viral meningitis due to enterovirus peaks in mid-summer through early autumn. But it can occur any time of the year. Except for the rare case of herpes meningitis, viral meningitis will resolve on its own after 7 to 10 days. Bacterial meningitis, formerly called spinal meningitis, is a very serious and potentially fatal infection. It can strike very healthy people, but infants and older people are more susceptible. The three most common types of bacterial meningitis are caused by Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The good news is that there are very effective vaccines to help prevent all three types.
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From Health A-Z, Harvard Health Publications. Copyright 2007 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Written permission is required to reproduce, in any manner, in whole or in part, the material contained herein. To make a reprint request, contact Harvard Health Publications. Used with permission of StayWell.
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Meatless Meals Benefit Your Health
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Chef Meg Galvin is working with SparkRecipes to make our favorite recipes even tastier and healthier.
She took this member-submitted recipe and made a few changes to add flavor without fat and calories. She creates a pan sauce using Wondra, a superfine flour, and white wine, which is used to deglaze the pan and scrape up all the tasty bits from the bottom of the pan.
Full Recipe
