The medical history is an important part of diagnosing meningitis. If your doctor suspects meningitis, he or she will want to know:

• Whether you have recently been in areas of the United States where there are ticks and mosquitoes that may carry germs that can cause meningitis.
• Whether you have recently been in contact with someone who had meningitis.
• Whether you have certain conditions or long-term illnesses that make you more likely to develop meningitis.
• What medicines you have taken recently.
• Whether you have been sick recently or whether you have any long-term medical conditions.
• Whether you have recently traveled outside the United States.

If there has been an outbreak of meningitis in your community, your doctor may ask questions that compare your symptoms with symptoms seen in the outbreak.