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Symptoms of Meningitis

Symptoms may not be easy to identify as meningitis because initially, they can be similar to those of flu. The symptoms below may appear in any order over 1-2 days or in a matter for hours and some of them may not appear at all. It is also possible that there may be additional symptoms.

In adults and older children;

  • high temperature,
  • vomiting,
  • sometimes diarrhoea,
  • severe headache,
  • neck stiffness (unable to touch chin to chest),
  • aversion to bright light,
  • sore throat,
  • drowsiness,
  • joint or muscle pains,
  • stomach cramps,
  • fits,
  • confusion, and
  • disorientation.

In babies and infants;

  • high temperature,
  • fever (possibly with cold hands and feet),
  • vomiting and refusing feeds,
  • high pitched moaning,
  • whimpering cry,
  • blank staring expression,
  • pale blotchy complexion,
  • floppiness,
  • dislike of being handled,
  • fretful,
  • neck retraction with arching of back,
  • convulsions,
  • difficult to wake,
  • lethargic, and
  • tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot on head).

Meningitis is very serious. In babies and young children, death can occur in a matter of hours if left untreated. In some cases, the acute illness subsides into a persistent (chronic) state, which may lead to serious brain damage. If you suspect meningitis you must seek urgent medical assistance.

Sometimes, but not always, the bacteria that cause meningitis can cause septicaemia (blood poisoning). This is a medical emergency needing urgent treatment with antibiotics. A rash of purple-red spots can appear starting anywhere as a cluster of tiny blood spots, which join to give the appearance of fresh bruises. If you suspect meningitis you should not wait for the rash to appear.

The glass (tumbler) test can be used to determine if a rash might be septicaemia, by pressing the side of a clear drinking glass onto the rash or bruises and checking that they fade. If they do not fade, you should suspect septicaemia. In a small number of cases the rash may fade at first but may later change into one that does not fade.

Viral meningitis is a less severe illness but, very rarely, can progress from headache, fever and drowsiness, to deep coma. In severe cases there may be weakness of the muscles, paralysis, speech disturbances, double vision or partial loss of the field of vision, and epileptic fits. Most people make a full recovery within one to two weeks. Occasionally there maybe long term problems such as hearing or memory impairment.