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Daveigh Chase, the young actress best known for "The Ring" and "Lilo & Stitch," has reportedly died at 35 from meningitis and an infection in her blood, her boyfriend Roy Hernandez told TMZ.Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord that provide structural support, cushioning tissue, improved circulation and more.There are several types of meningitis, including bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic and ones caused by non-infectious factors. Viral meningitis is the more common and less serious form of the disease, while bacterial meningitis "accounts for the minority of meningitis cases but can be associated with severe neurological complications and even death," Dr. Rodrigo Hasbun, an infectious diseases professor at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School, previously told USA TODAY.Here's what else to know about the infection.What causes meningitis?Common causes of viral meningitis include enteroviruses, herpes viruses, the West Nile virus, mumps and influenza viruses.Bacterial meningitis can be caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae, Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, previously told USA TODAY.Fungi like Cryptococcus and parasites or amoebas can cause fungal meningitis or parasitic meningitis.What are meningitis symptoms?Meningitis can lead to a host of worrisome symptoms that range in seriousness depending on what's causing the infection and inflammation. Some of these symptoms include a high fever, lethargy, hearing loss, kidney failure, confusion, brain damage, learning disabilities, coma and possibly death."Other symptoms include irritability, unconsciousness, stiff neck, seizures, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light," Dr. John Sellick, a professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division at the University at Buffalo, previously told USA TODAY.Can you treat meningitis?Meningitis treatment varies widely depending on its cause. For example, bacterial meningitis "requires immediate intravenous antibiotics and sometimes corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, while viral meningitis usually resolves on its own with rest, fluids and pain relievers," Nagata explained.He says that antivirals may also be used against specific viruses like herpes while fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal medications. "Non-infectious meningitis is managed by addressing the underlying condition, such as autoimmune diseases or cancer," he said.While bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening, "early treatment improves outcomes," Nagata added.Prevention through vaccination is also important. You can get vaccinated against the viruses that can lead to meningitis and get the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria that cause meningitis. Sellick says this vaccine "has very high efficacy in preventing infection."
