What is meningitis characterized by?

Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the membranes (meninges) around the brain or spinal cord. Inflammation can begin suddenly (acute) or develop gradually (subacute). Major symptoms may include fever, headache, and a stiff neck, sometimes with aching muscles. Nausea, vomiting and other symptoms may occur.

What are 3 symptoms of meningitis?

Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:
  • a high temperature (fever)
  • being sick.
  • a headache.
  • a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
  • a stiff neck.
  • a dislike of bright lights.
  • drowsiness or unresponsiveness.
  • seizures (fits)

What are 5 signs of bacterial meningitis?

The most common symptoms of bacterial meningitis are:
  • Painful, stiff neck with limited range of motion.
  • Headaches.
  • High fever.
  • Feeling confused or sleepy.
  • Bruising easily all over the body.
  • A rash on the skin.
  • Sensitivity to light.

What are the hallmark features of bacterial meningitis?

Early clinical features of bacterial meningitis are nonspecific and include fever, malaise and headache; and later on, meningismus (neck stiffness), photophobia, phonophobia and vomiting develop as signs of meningeal irritation [van de Beek et al. 2004].

What is the main cause of meningitis?

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.

What does the start of meningitis look like?

The meningitis “rash” can start as a blanching rash, but nearly always develops into a non-blanching red, purple or brownish petechial rash or purpura, meaning it will not disappear when pressed.

Which of the following are typical signs and symptoms of most cases of meningitis?

The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia.
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Symptoms may include:
  • Fever and chills.
  • Fatigue (feeling tired)
  • Vomiting.
  • Cold hands and feet.
  • Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
  • Rapid breathing.
  • Diarrhea.
  • In the later stages, a dark purple rash.

When should you suspect bacterial meningitis?

Clinicians should suspect bacterial meningitis in patients with typical symptoms and signs, usually fever, changes in mental status, and nuchal rigidity.

What type of headache is meningitis?

This is due to inflammation in the meninges, which are the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. The inflammation can result in significant pain. The headache tends to start quickly and affect the whole head, rather than focusing on one location. This headache can resemble a migraine headache.

How do I check myself for meningitis?

Gently and slowly push on the back of your neck so that your head moves forward. For better results, have someone do this for you. Note if your hips and knees flex involuntarily as you raise your head. This is a positive Brudzinski sign, meaning that you may have meningitis.

How do you check if you have meningitis?

For a definitive diagnosis of meningitis, you’ll need a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In people with meningitis, the CSF often shows a low sugar (glucose) level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein.

How long can you have meningitis for without knowing?

Typically, symptoms of bacterial meningitis develop within 3 to 7 days after exposure; note, this is not true for TB meningitis, which can develop much later after exposure to the bacteria. People with bacterial meningitis can have seizures, go into a coma, and even die.

Can you have meningitis without knowing?

Viral meningitis usually begins with symptoms of a viral infection, such as fever, a general feeling of illness (malaise), cough, muscle aches, vomiting, loss of appetite, and headache. However, occasionally, people have no symptoms at first. Later, people have symptoms that suggest meningitis.

Where is a meningitis headache located?

The headache is generalized all over the head. Drowsiness and confusion may be present in the more severe cases. Seizures are rare in meningitis, but common in encephalitis which is an infection of the brain tissue. The onset of the headache and fever usually occurs quite rapidly.

What antibiotics treat meningitis?

The drug of choice is ceftriaxone (2 g/day for 14-28 days). The alternative therapy is penicillin G (20 million U/day for 14-28 days). Doxycycline (100 mg orally or IV every 12 hours for 14-28 days) or chloramphenicol (1 g every 6 hours for 14-28 days) has also been used.

What does a meningitis headache feel like?

A headache caused by meningitis is typically described as severe and unrelenting. It does not subside by taking an aspirin. Stiff neck. This symptom most commonly involves a reduced ability to flex the neck forward, also called nuchal rigidity.

What part of the neck hurts with meningitis?

This is caused by swelling located in the back of your neck, behind your skull, that you may be able to feel. Neck pain from meningitis can be accompanied by a feeling of tenderness or soreness in the affected area. It may also come with a throbbing or persistent headache.

How does meningitis affect the eyes?

Changes in sight can be a permanent or temporary effect of meningitis. Damage to the optic nerve can result in partial sight loss or blindness in one or both eyes. Swelling of optic nerves can produce temporary eyesight difficulties.