Signs and symptoms of meningitis vomiting. seizures (fits) headache. irritability and high-pitched cry (especially in babies)
Symptoms: viral meningitis: fever, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, confusion. bacterial meningitis: high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness, confusion. A rash, nausea, vomiting, and sore throat can also occur.
The first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell. Limb pain, pale skin, and cold hands and feet often appear earlier than the rash, neck stiffness, dislike of bright lights and confusion.
If you are suffering from symptoms like neck stiffness, fever, nausea, and vomiting, it is time that you visit a doctor for a diagnosis. However, there are two techniques, including the Brudzinski test and the Kernig test, that can be performed at home to check Meningitis.
A definitive diagnosis of meningitis requires a spinal tap to collect cerebrospinal fluid. In people with meningitis, the fluid often shows a low sugar level along with an increased white blood cell count and increased protein. Analyzing the fluid also may help identify which bacterium caused the meningitis.
The inflammation from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck. Most cases of meningitis in the United States are caused by a viral infection. But bacteria, parasites and fungi also can cause it. Some cases of meningitis improve without treatment in a few weeks.
What are the possible complications of meningitis in a child? Bacterial meningitis is usually more severe and may lead to long-term complications. Some children may have long-term problems with seizures, brain damage, hearing loss, and disability. Bacterial meningitis can also cause death.
The viral form usually is not very serious, except in infants less than three months of age and with certain viruses such as herpes simplex, which typically causes another serious infection. Once meningitis is diagnosed as being caused by a virus, there is no need for antibiotics and recovery should be complete.
Symptoms generally develop 1-10 days after exposure, but usually less than 4 days. Meningitis is contagious until at least 24 hours after treatment with antibiotics the bacteria is sensitive to.
Although meningococcal infection is rare in Australia, vaccination is important because the vaccine protects not only the vaccinated person, but unvaccinated people also. This is because the disease is less likely to spread and so people who are not immune are less likely to be exposed to it.
The rash usually starts as small, red pinpricks before spreading quickly and turning into red or purple blotches. It does not fade if you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin. The rash can be harder to see on brown or black skin.
Meningitis can be fatal. Nursing staff need to prioritise antibiotic treatment, as delays are associated with poorer outcomes. Testing the urine specific gravity to assess fluid status can be useful, especially in infants and children with a labile fluid status, and those on full maintenance intravenous fluids.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but rates of disease are highest in children younger than 1 year old, with a second peak in adolescence.
Classic symptoms of meningitis in adults are fever, headache and neck stiffness, but not everyone has every symptom. Newborns and babies may instead vomit, act fussy, not eat well, lack energy and be difficult to wake up.
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.
The rash can appear anywhere on the body, and it may be easier to see on paler parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Usually, the rash is not raised, so the skin is unlikely to feel rough or bumpy. At first, the rash may be subtle, but it can spread to larger areas of skin.
Antimicrobial therapy – Antibiotic therapy should be initiated immediately following the LP if the clinical suspicion for meningitis is high: Administer first doses of empiric antibiotic therapy: Vancomycin (15 mg/kg IV), PLUS. Ceftriaxone (50 mg/kg IV) or cefotaxime (100 mg/kg IV; where available).