Medically reviewed by Sameena Zahoor, MDMedically reviewed by Sameena Zahoor, MD The meninges of the brain and spinal cord are three layers of membranes: the dura mater, arachnoid mater ...

They breach the meninges to infect the fluid running into the spinal cord. One clear, early symptom is a stiff, sore neck. The meninges and brain start to swell, putting pressure on essential nerves.

The infection can spread to the meninges, a protective layer of tissue that pads your brain and spinal cord. This layer expands when fighting the infection. However, while it is protecting your ...

They include infections, inflammatory disorders, vascular diseases and disorders that affect the meninges or perimeningeal spaces that surround the spinal cord.

A CSF leak occurs when the fluid escapes through a tear or hole in the dura mater – the tough, outermost layer of the meninges that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The dura can be damaged from ...