Meningitis Symptoms and Complications Everyday Health
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LethargyA bulging fontanelle (a swollen soft spot on the head) Irritability when heldDifficulty focusing the gazeDifficulty being fed (1)
The incidence of this disease has decreased over the last few decades, possibly due to increased maternal screenings for the bacteria that is primarily responsible for this disease. (5) That bacteria is Group B streptococcus (GBS). According to research, the following are among the risk factors for neonatal meningitis: (5)
Premature birthGBS infection in the motherFever in the motherLow birth weightFetal monitoring or other invasive procedures, like shunts or catheters Signs and symptoms of meningitis in newborns include:FeverDazed effectDifficulties focusing a gazeIrritability, especially when heldConstant cryingFrequent vomitingDifficulty being fedBulging fontanelle (swollen soft spot on the head)Constant sleepiness or trouble waking Neonatal meningitis caused by GBS may develop in an infant’s first week of life, but most often occurs in an infant’s first three months. (4)
Meningitis Symptoms and Complications
By Joseph Bennington-CastroMedically Reviewed by Michael Natter, MDReviewed: September 7, 2022Medically ReviewedWhether it’s viral, bacterial, or fungal meningitis, the symptoms are generally the same; if you have a headache, a high fever, and can’t lower your chin to your chest, call a doctor.Getty Images A fever, severe headache, and stiff neck are the leading symptoms of meningitis. There are numerous ways that the meninges, or protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, can become inflamed and turn into meningitis. Viral infections, particularly from enteroviruses, are the most common cause of meningitis. But other types of infections, including those from a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and parasites, can also cause the disease. There are also many noninfectious causes of meningitis, including head injury, brain surgery, and certain cancers. Despite the range of causes, the symptoms of meningitis are generally the same, whether it’s viral, bacterial, or fungal.What Are the Symptoms of Viral Meningitis
Sudden onset of fever, severe headache, and stiff neck are typically the initial signs of viral meningitis in both children and adults. If you have a high fever, headaches, and can’t lower your chin to your chest without intense pain, seek medical attention right away. Other common symptoms include: Nausea and vomitingPhotophobia, or sensitivity to bright lightsAltered mental states, such as confusion and difficulty concentrating Along with these symptoms, people with viral meningitis may also experience:Lethargy (lack of energy) or profound fatigueDecreased appetiteSleeping problems, such as sleepiness and difficulty fully rousing from sleep With viral meningitis, the symptoms are often less severe than with bacterial meningitis and develop at a slower pace. Most cases go away on their own within 7 to 10 days, however, a complete medical assessment is still necessary.What Are Complications of Viral Meningitis
If complications accompany or follow viral meningitis, they are not as severe as with bacterial meningitis. According to a 2015 survey of more than 450 meningitis patients, those who had experienced viral meningitis reported these difficulties in the wake of recovery:Symptoms and Complications of Viral Bacterial and Other Types of Meningitis
The two most common forms of bacterial meningitis are meningococcal meningitis (caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis) and pneumococcal meningitis (caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae). The symptoms of bacterial meningitis, which are the same as those of viral meningitis, typically develop rapidly over the course of three to seven days. As with viral meningitis, if you have a high fever, headaches, and can’t lower your chin to your chest, call a doctor right away. Children with bacterial meningitis may experience: FeverVomiting Respiratory difficulties Seizures or shock Infants may exhibit these symptoms:LethargyA bulging fontanelle (a swollen soft spot on the head) Irritability when heldDifficulty focusing the gazeDifficulty being fed (1)
What Are Complications of Bacterial Meningitis
Most of the time, if bacterial meningitis is treated right away, people can return quickly to good health. Still, some cases can be fatal, and there may sometimes be long-term effects, such as:TirednessCognitive difficultiesHearing difficulties, including permanent hearing lossCoordination problemsBehavioral problems (in children)Speech problemsHeadaches The later stages of bacterial meningitis can cause severe and life-threatening complications, including:Septicemia (blood poisoning)SeizuresComaStrokeHemorrhage of the adrenal glands, which are glands on top of the kidneys that produce important, regulating hormones (2)Related ConditionsWhat s Causing Your Skin Rash
Septicemia due to meningococcal meningitis causes a rash that begins as tiny red spots that, if untreated, turn into larger purplish bruise-like spots. This is due to the blood leaking from damaged blood vessels underneath the skin. There’s a test to see whether this rash may be due to septicemia from meningococcal meningitis: If you press a glass on the rash, and the pressure doesn’t make the bumps fade, it means the rash may be caused by meningococcal meningitis. In darker skin, check for the rash inside the eyelids, on the palms of hands, and on the bottoms of feet. Cold feet and hands are other signs of septicemia.What Are the Symptoms of Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis
An infection from the microscopic amoeba (a single-celled organism) Naegleria fowleri can cause a very rare form of parasitic meningitis called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, in which the brain is also inflamed. The initial symptoms of PAM — headache, fever, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting — begin within the first seven days of becoming infected with the parasite. As the infection progresses, it can cause:ConfusionLack of attention to people and surroundingsLoss of balanceSeizuresHallucinations Without treatment, PAM usually results in death about five days after symptoms start. (3)What Are Neonatal Meningitis Symptoms
Bacterial meningitis in newborns is called neonatal bacterial meningitis. The condition is very rare and occurs most often in babies with low birth weight. It’s been estimated that neonatal bacterial meningitis affects 2 in every 10,000 babies born full-term, and in 2 out of 1,000 low birth weight infants. (4)The incidence of this disease has decreased over the last few decades, possibly due to increased maternal screenings for the bacteria that is primarily responsible for this disease. (5) That bacteria is Group B streptococcus (GBS). According to research, the following are among the risk factors for neonatal meningitis: (5)
Premature birthGBS infection in the motherFever in the motherLow birth weightFetal monitoring or other invasive procedures, like shunts or catheters Signs and symptoms of meningitis in newborns include:FeverDazed effectDifficulties focusing a gazeIrritability, especially when heldConstant cryingFrequent vomitingDifficulty being fedBulging fontanelle (swollen soft spot on the head)Constant sleepiness or trouble waking Neonatal meningitis caused by GBS may develop in an infant’s first week of life, but most often occurs in an infant’s first three months. (4)