Which disease is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord?

Meningitis is the correct answer as it specifically refers to the inflammation of the protective membranes, known as meninges, that surround the brain and spinal cord. This condition can be caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, and it often leads to severe symptoms such as headache, fever, and stiff neck. The diagnosis of meningitis is typically confirmed through a lumbar puncture, which allows for analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Encephalitis, while also related to the brain, pertains more to the inflammation of the brain itself rather than the surrounding membranes. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by seizures and is not an infectious disease. Epiglottitis, on the other hand, refers to the inflammation of the epiglottis, which is located in the throat and is also unrelated to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. These distinctions highlight why meningitis is accurately identified as the infection affecting the membranes in question.