Symptoms of Meningitis

Meningitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and even as a consequence of certain medications. Bacterial meningitis and certain viral diseases can be deadly, even in people with strong immune systems. Bacterial meningitis is associated with dramatic symptoms such as hearing damage, brain damage, amputations or death. In other cases, meningitis is a mild disease that does not need any specific treatment and may even go unnoticed.

Infants are at high risk of getting meningitis; vulnerability increases again for adolescents and young adults, as well as for people with disorders that affect the immune system. Bacterial meningitis is considered a medical emergency, and patients should be taken to the emergency room if meningitis is suspected.

For children over 2 years old and adults, bacterial meningitis symptoms are:

• Classic symptoms: fever, headache, change in mental state and neck stiffness (not everyone with meningitis has all of these symptoms)
• Sensitivity to light
• Confusion
• Increased pressure around the brain may cause headaches, nausea and vomiting
• Kernig's sign -- the inability to extend the knee when the hip is flexed at 90 degrees (perpendicular to the body)
• Brudzinski's sign -- the flexing forward of the neck in a patient lying down results in the involuntary flexing of the hips and knees
• Hemorrhagic rash -- in rare cases where meningococcal septicaemia causes rapid circulatory collapse

For children under 2 years old:

• Classical signs of meningitis are often absent or muted
• Refusal to eat
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Unusual behavior
• Generalized or partial seizures
• Bulging fontanelles (soft spots on a baby's head) when not crying

_Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Traveler's Health. Yellow Book. Meningococcal disease. Retrieved August 14, 2007.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Mycotic and Bacterial Diseases. Meningococcal Disease. Retrieved September 1, 2007.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR (August 10, 2007). Notice to Readers: Revised Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to Vaccinate All Persons Aged 11--18 Years with Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control. Hamophilus Influenza type B (Hib) Vaccine; What You Need to Know. Retrieved September 1, 2007.

Centers for Disease Control. Frequently Asked Questions about the Pnuemonococcal Conjugate Vaccine for Parents. Retrieved September 4, 2007.

Centers for Disease Control. Pnuemonococcal Disease-In Short. Retrieved September 4, 2007.

Heymann, David (2004.) Control of communicable diseases manual. Washington D.C.: American Public Health Association.

Bernal, Oscar. Personal communication. August 15, 2007.