What are the symptoms of meningitis?

Introduction

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. It can be caused by bacterial, viral, or other infections and presents with a variety of symptoms that can vary by age and the causative agent.

Key Insights

Common Symptoms Across All Ages:
- Fever is a predominant symptom in most cases of meningitis, present in 94% of childhood bacterial meningitis cases.
- Severe generalized headache, fever, neck stiffness, and a change in mental status are characteristic symptoms.
Age-Specific Symptoms:
- Infants (1-5 months): Irritability is highly common, observed in 85% of cases.
- Older Infants (6-11 months): Impaired consciousness is a significant symptom, seen in 79% of cases.
- Children (12 months or more): Vomiting (82%) and neck rigidity (78%) are frequent symptoms.
Additional Symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and skin rash are also associated with meningitis.
- In elderly patients, fever may be absent, and a change in mental status might be the only symptom.
Symptom Variability by Causative Agent:
- Symptoms of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae differ from those caused by meningococcal bacteria.

Conclusion

Meningitis presents with a range of symptoms that can vary significantly by age and the causative agent. Common symptoms include fever, headache, neck stiffness, and changes in mental status. In infants, irritability and impaired consciousness are notable, while older children often exhibit vomiting and neck rigidity. Additional symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and skin rash can also occur. Elderly patients may present primarily with changes in mental status, sometimes without fever. Recognizing these symptoms promptly is crucial for timely medical intervention.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Childhood bacterial meningitis: initial symptoms and signs related to age, and reasons for consulting a physician

Childhood bacterial meningitis symptoms vary by age, with fever and vomiting being the most common reasons for consulting a physician, while irritability, impaired consciousness, and neck rigidity are often overlooked.

Meningitis and Encephalitis

Meningitis is a severe infection of the brain and spinal cord, often causing severe headaches, fever, neck stiffness, and changes in mental status.

Viral meningitis: an overview

Enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis, with similar clinical symptoms across different causative agents, making early diagnosis challenging.

Meningitis and complications

Bacterial meningitis is extremely serious and can cause permanent disabilities in children, especially in infants under one month of age and immunosuppressed children.

Not your "typical patient": cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent patient.

Cryptococcal meningitis can affect immunocompetent patients, requiring early diagnosis and individualized nursing care plans to maximize functional recovery.

Viral Meningitis

Early recognition and treatment of viral meningitis in pediatric patients is crucial to prevent morbidity and mortality.

Josef Brudzinski and Vladimir Mikhailovich Kernig: Signs for Diagnosing Meningitis

Kernig's and Brudzinski's signs are critical for timely diagnosis of meningitis, which can improve outcomes in patients with bacterial meningitis.

Chronic meningitis

Chronic meningitis has a wide range of causes, making diagnosis challenging, but most patients with idiopathic chronic meningitis have relatively good outcomes.

Viral (aseptic) meningitis: A review

Viral meningitis is a common and preventable condition, with molecular diagnostics technology improving detection rates and supportive care for most cases.

[Viral meningitis].

Viral meningitis is a self-limited central nervous system infection with symptoms typically resolving without treatment, but treatment may be beneficial in certain clinical scenarios.

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