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• Dura mater - the outside membrane that adheres to the inside of the skull.
• Arachnoid - the middle membrane.
• Pia mater - the innermost membrane, which adheres to the brain.

Viral, caused by a virus
Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial, although rarely life-threatening. Viral meningitis can be caused by different viruses, and is spread between people by coughing or sneezing, or through poor hygiene. Other germs can be found in sewage polluted water.
Viral meningitis cannot be helped by antibiotics, treatment is based on good nursing care.
Recovery is normally complete, but headaches, tiredness may persist.

Bacterial,  caused by a bacterium
Bacterial meningitis, although comparatively rare, is by far the most dangerous and may be fatal.
Bacteria may be spread between people by coughing, sneezing, and kissing, but they cannot live outside the body for long. They cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings, etc.

Symptoms:

Vomiting	High Temperature	Violent or severe headache	Neck Stiffness
Light Aversion	Drowsiness	Joint Pains	Fitting, Confusion

Fever possibly with the hands and feet feeling cold	Refusing foods or vomiting	High pitched moaning cry or whimpering	Dislike of being handled, fretful
Neck retraction with arching back	Blank and staring expression	Child difficult to wake lethargic	Pale, blotchy skin colour

Septicaemia may also occur
Septicaemia (blood poisoning)
A rash of red or purple spots or bruises anywhere on the body is a very serious sign, place a glass over the rash, if the spots or bruises do not turn white when pressed with the glass; Get help immediately.

With two or more of these symptoms consult your G.P. to eliminate a diagnosis of meningitis. Meningitis is not easy to identify at first because the symptoms are similar to those of flu.

Recognising the symptoms early could mean the difference between life and death. Someone with meningitis will become very ill. The illness may progress over one or two days but it can develop quickly and sometimes in just a few hours the patient will become seriously ill .

Treatment: go to your Doctor or get the patient to Hospital now !
There are many forms and degrees of meningitis. Treating it depends on the type of bacterium or virus that causes the infection.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis, and may also prescribed for immediate family members or others who are in very close contact with the patient .
Antibiotics are not used for viral meningitis.