What is the difference between meningitis and encephalitis?

Different locations: Meningitis is inflammation or infection of the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) and membranes (meninges) covering the brain and spinal cord. Encephalitis is inflammation or infection of the brain tissue itself. When the two diseases happen together, it is called meningoencephalitis.

Location, location: The meninges is a thick set of membranes that cover the brain. There is fluid within these membranes that can become infected. There may be some spread into vessels that go into the brain. The encephalon is the brain cells. If infection affects the meninges it is meningitis. If the infection gets into brain cells, it is encephalitis.