lunes, 9 de diciembre de 2019

Meningitis Symptoms

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By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDReviewed by April Cashin-Garbutt, MA (Editor)

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord. Inflammation and infection of the meninges is often a life threatening medical condition as it can lead to brain infection and infection in the blood stream or septicaemia which can be fatal.

Meningitis may be caused by bacteria or by viruses. Viral meningitis usually is more common and runs a milder course while bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency.

By Mikael Häggström, via Wikimedia Commons

Bacterial meningitis symptoms

Bacterial meningitis is the more serious form of the condition. Symptoms begin suddenly and worsen rapidly. Meningitis commonly affects children and elderly but may affect all age groups.

Initial warning symptoms

Some of the initial warning symptoms include:

body ache and muscle pain in limbs and joints
shivering and cold hands and feet
bluish lips and pale skin
high fever

Early symptoms

Early symptoms of bacterial meningitis include:

feeling generally unwell
severe unrelenting headache
usually a very high fever
nausea and vomiting

Later symptoms

As the disease progresses the symptoms include:

drowsiness
confusion
seizures or fits
being unable to tolerate bright lights (photophobia) – this is less common in young children
stiff neck – less common in young children - the neck becomes stiff and it is difficult to bend the neck forwards
rapid breathing rate, rapid heart rate, respiratory distress, altered mental state (confusion and delirium), poor urine output and extremely low blood pressure – this is a symptom of septicaemia and shock
blotchy red rash which is characteristic and does not fade or change colour when pressed with a glass slide. This is not always present - a rash is strongly suggestive of meningococcal septicaemia and should lead to urgent treatment and referral
Kernig's sign refers to pain and resistance on straightening the knees with the hips folded - this detects back stiffness and is characteristic of meningitis
Brudzinski's sign refers to pain and resistance on bending the head forward with the hips folded
focal paralysis and neurological deficits and abnormal pupils