Tuberculous meningitis is an important global medical problem which gives rise to high morbidity and mortality. It is the most severe form of extrapulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Comprehensive prevention effort, prompt diagnosis and rational treatment are all keys to improving treatment outcomes; yet many unsolved problems remain. On the other hand, the new problems, such as HIV co-infection and drug-resistance are posing important challenges. This review outlines the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management and prognosis of tuberculous meningitis. We mainly focus on research carried out in the recent decades, giving special attention to the work done among the Asian populations