Meningitis is a devastating and potentially life-threatening disease caused by the inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, known as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This inflammation can be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites and sometimes by non-infectious causes such as certain medications or autoimmune diseases. Meningitis is a major contributor to global illness and death, particularly among newborns (neonates) and young children. The disease’s impact varies depending on geographic location and the causative organism. Mortality rates range from 10% to 15%, with incidence rates reported between 0.25 and 6.1 per 1000 live births worldwide—exceptionally low at 0.3 per 1000 in developed countries, moderate at 0.48–2.4 per 1000 in Asia, and high at 0.81–6.1 per 1000 in Africa and South Africa. In 2010, an estimated 7.6 million deaths occurred among children under five, with 64.0% (4.879 million) due to infectious causes and 40.3% (3.072 million) occurring in newborns. Of these neonatal deaths, 5.2% (0.393 million) were attributed to sepsis or meningitis.