Meningitis is a serious medical condition with potentially life-threatening consequences if left untreated. It is characterized by inflammation of the membranes that surround and safeguard your brain and spinal cord.
Knowing the warning signs of meningitis could save your life - so it's important to stay informed! In this article, we'll take a look at some of the symptoms of meningitis, which can help in the early detection of this devastating condition.
What are the Symptoms of Meningitis?
Some cases of meningitis may present with strong symptoms, while some may present weak symptoms, requiring different treatments.
The signs of meningitis include the following:
- Stiff neck and headache – These are the most common and early-stage symptoms of meningitis and are observed at all ages of meningitis patients
- Sudden high fever – The presence of infectious agents in the meninges causes high fever.
- Nausea and vomiting – The presence of infectious agents may cause nausea and vomiting.
- Lethargy feeling and sleepiness – Feeling tired all the time and not able to wake up easily could be symptoms of meningitis.
- Seizures and coma – These are less frequent symptoms that occur only in a few cases.
- Neurological problems – This includes a decline in hearing, speech, cognitive behaviours and muscle weakness.
- Sepsis- This mainly occurs in bacterial meningitis that can cause skin rashes, diarrhoea, cold hands and feet and rapid breathing.
- Light sensitivity – Being more sensitive to light and not able to open eyes completely in bright light.
- Irritability – This is mainly associated with babies, along with symptoms like poor feeding, sleepiness, swelling or soft spot on the head.