Who gets bacterial meningitis?
Children between the ages of one month and two years are the most susceptible to bacterial meningitis. Adults with certain risk factors are also susceptible. You are at higher risk if you abuse alcohol, have chronic nose and ear infections, sustain a head injury or get pneumococcal pneumonia. You are also at higher risk if you have a weakened immune system, have had your spleen removed, are on corticosteroids because of kidney failure or have a sickle cell disease. Additionally, if you have had brain or spinal surgery or have had a widespread blood infection you are also a higher risk for bacterial meningitis. Outbreaks of bacterial meningitis also occur in living situations where you are in close contact with others, such as college dormitories or military barracks. Source: clevelandclinic.
