5. Influenza
So far, most of the causes of spinal meningitis that we’ve discussed can be prevented through childhood vaccinations of the MMR and chickenpox variety, that being said, there’s also a more ubiquitous cause for spinal meningitis — flu.
While it may seem like nothing more than a seasonal annoyance, thousands of deaths each year are a result of the flu. In many of these cases, it’s the complications resulting from flu that kills the patient rather than the flu itself. One such complication is spinal meningitis.
It’s worth noting that, if you’re a healthy young adult then you’ll most likely ride the flu out without facing any complications. That being said, there are certain risk groups who are more likely to develop complications such as meningitis after catching the flu. This includes infants below the age of two and adults 65 and over.