aseptic meningitis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal / Technical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “aseptic meningitis” mean?
An inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, characterized by the absence of culturable bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, characterized by the absence of culturable bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid.
A clinical syndrome of meningitis typically caused by viruses or other non-bacterial agents, leading to symptoms like headache, fever, and neck stiffness, but with a better prognosis than bacterial meningitis. The term often specifically refers to cases caused by enteroviruses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the same term. Spelling follows regional norms (e.g., 'characterised' in UK, 'characterized' in US).
Connotations
Identical medical connotations. Understood identically by professionals in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency, used exclusively in medical and public health contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “aseptic meningitis” in a Sentence
The patient developed aseptic meningitis.The lumbar puncture confirmed aseptic meningitis.They ruled out aseptic meningitis.The cause of the aseptic meningitis was viral.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aseptic meningitis” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No verb form.
American English
- No verb form.
adverb
British English
- No adverb form.
American English
- No adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The aseptic meningitis presentation was confirmed.
American English
- The aseptic meningitis syndrome is often self-limiting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Only in corporate communications of pharmaceutical or healthcare companies.
Academic
Exclusively in medical and biological research papers, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Laypeople would say 'viral meningitis'.
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical diagnosis, patient notes, medical journals, and epidemiological reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “aseptic meningitis”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “aseptic meningitis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aseptic meningitis”
- Pronouncing it as /ˈæsɛptɪk/ (short 'a') instead of /eɪˈsɛptɪk/ (long 'a').
- Using 'aseptic' to mean 'sterile' in this context, when it specifically refers to the absence of bacterial growth.
- Confusing it with 'septic meningitis', which is the opposite.
- Treating it as a singular disease rather than a syndrome with multiple causes.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the cause. If caused by an enterovirus (the most common cause), it can be contagious, mainly via the faecal-oral route.
It is generally less severe than acute bacterial meningitis and often self-resolves, but it still requires medical evaluation as symptoms can overlap with more dangerous conditions.
Viral meningitis is the most common subtype of aseptic meningitis. 'Aseptic' is a broader category that can also include meningitis caused by drugs, systemic diseases, or fungi, all yielding negative bacterial cultures.
The term is historical, from a time when 'sepsis' was strongly associated with bacterial infection. 'Aseptic' here specifically means 'without cultivable bacteria'.
An inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord, characterized by the absence of culturable bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid.
Aseptic meningitis is usually formal / technical / medical in register.
Aseptic meningitis: in British English it is pronounced /eɪˌsɛptɪk ˌmɛnɪnˈdʒaɪtɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /eɪˈsɛptɪk ˌmɛnənˈdʒaɪt̬əs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical medical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A-SEPTIC MENINGITIS: A (without) + SEPTIC (bacteria/infection) + MENING-ITIS (inflammation of the meninges). Think: 'A form of meningitis without the typical bacterial infection'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A neurological fire drill (a serious alert and inflammatory response, but typically less destructive than the 'full fire' of bacterial meningitis).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key distinguishing feature of aseptic meningitis?