Which of the following are risk factors for meningitis?

Which of the following are risk factors for meningitis?

• A. Age extremes, crowded living, immune deficiency
• B. Only age extremes
• C. Only vaccination status
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Meningitis risk rises with factors that increase exposure or weaken defenses. Extremely young or old individuals have less robust immunity, making them more susceptible. Crowded living situations—dorms, daycare, military barracks—facilitate close contact and spread of meningitis-causing organisms. Immune deficiency, including asplenia, complement defects, HIV, or immunosuppressive therapy, impairs the body's ability to control infection. Vaccination status also influences risk: being unvaccinated or not up to date with vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, or meningococcus increases the chance of contracting vaccine-preventable meningitis. Taken together, these factors all contribute to risk, so all of the above is the best answer.

Meningitis risk rises with factors that increase exposure or weaken defenses. Extremely young or old individuals have less robust immunity, making them more susceptible. Crowded living situations—dorms, daycare, military barracks—facilitate close contact and spread of meningitis-causing organisms. Immune deficiency, including asplenia, complement defects, HIV, or immunosuppressive therapy, impairs the body's ability to control infection. Vaccination status also influences risk: being unvaccinated or not up to date with vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, or meningococcus increases the chance of contracting vaccine-preventable meningitis. Taken together, these factors all contribute to risk, so all of the above is the best answer.