What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the fluid and membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
The swelling from meningitis typically triggers signs and symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck.
Most cases of meningitis are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections are other causes.
Some cases of meningitis improve without treatment in a few weeks. Others can be life-threatening and require emergency antibiotic treatment.
Seek immediate medical care if you suspect that someone has meningitis. Early treatment of bacterial meningitis can prevent serious complications.
Symptoms
Early meningitis symptoms may mimic the flu (influenza). Symptoms may develop over several hours or over a few days.
Possible signs and symptoms in anyone older than the age of 2 include:
- Sudden high fever
- Stiff neck
- Severe headache that seems different from normal
- Headache with nausea or vomiting
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Seizures
- Sleepiness or difficulty waking
- Sensitivity to light
- No appetite or thirst
- Skin rash (sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis)
Signs in newborns
Newborns and infants may show these signs:
- High fever
- Constant crying
- Excessive sleepiness or irritability
- Difficulty waking from sleep
- Inactivity or sluggishness
- Not waking to eat
- Poor feeding
- Vomiting
- A bulge in the soft spot on top of a baby's head (fontanel)
- Stiffness in the body and neck
When to see a doctor
Seek immediate medical care if you or someone in your family has meningitis signs or symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Severe, unrelenting headache
- Confusion
- Vomiting
- Stiff neck
Bacterial meningitis is serious and can be fatal within days without prompt antibiotic treatment.
Delayed treatment increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death.
It's also important to talk to your doctor if a family member or someone you live or work with has meningitis. You may need to take medications to prevent getting the infection.
Causes
Viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis, followed by bacterial infections and, rarely, fungal and parasitic infections.
Because bacterial infections can be life-threatening, identifying the cause is essential.
Several strains of bacteria can cause acute bacterial meningitis, most commonly: pneumococcus, meningococcus, haemophilus influenza, listeria.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508
