Spinal Meningitis: Symptoms
Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Non-bacterial meningitis is often referred to as "aseptic meningitis." Bacterial meningitis may be referred to as "purulent meningitis."
Symptoms of spinal meningitis
At first, spinal meningitis might feel like the flu. Fever, chills and lethargy are common initial symptoms, and if a patient feels that he or she only has a common cold or the flu, treatment might not be sought immediately. A stiff neck and photophobia should soon follow, however, and these are classic symptoms of spinal meningitis.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually appear suddenly. Symptoms of viral meningitis may appear suddenly or develop gradually over a period of days. For example, the symptoms of viral meningitis after mumps may take several days or weeks to develop.
About 25% of those who develop meningitis have symptoms that develop over 24 hours. The remainder generally become ill over one to seven days. Occasionally, if someone has been on antibiotics for another infection, the symptoms can take longer to develop or may be less intense. If someone is developing fungal meningitis (most commonly someone who is HIV positive), the symptoms may take weeks to develop.
In adults and older children:
Severe headache.
Stiff neck.
Dislike of bright lights.
Stiff neck and back
Sweating
Vomiting
Weight loss
Bed rest in the acute stage of symptoms will be necessary under medical supervision. Recovery is generally complete in the majority of cases and hospitalisation will only be necessary if a patient is extremely sick or if the diagnosis is in doubt.
The second form of meningitis is termed bacterial or septic meningitis. Most sufferers are under the age of 3 and symptoms may be difficult to interpret. The onset of symptoms may be acute or gradual and may include fever, headache, irritability, vomiting and neck stiffness. A purple red skin rash may be present. In the very young baby and there may be bulging of the skin above the forehead where the bones of the scalp have not yet completely joined. This is due to increased pressure inside the skull.
Fever and chills
Mental status changes
Nausea and vomiting
symptoms can include headache, fever, joint pain, neck stiffness among others. Meningitis can only be diagnosed correctly by a doctor and that will require some tests, usually a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. Viral meningitis is serious but not usually fatal, bacterial meningitis is very serious and will be fatal if not diagnosed and treated very quickly.
symptoms for meningitis, first you should have an idea about spinal meningitis itself. Spinal meningitis, or meningitis, is an infection caused generally by a bacteria or a virus in the meninges. The meninges are the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. The disease can be caused by other micro-organisms such as fungi.
The meningitis caused by bacteria is not seen as frequently as the one caused by virus and is more harmful. The common symptoms of meningitis include fever (with chill at times), bad headaches, vomiting, nausea, sound sensitivity, twitching, etc. The symptoms for both bacterial and viral meningitis can be the same at times.
Symptoms of spinal meningitis
At first, spinal meningitis might feel like the flu. Fever, chills and lethargy are common initial symptoms, and if a patient feels that he or she only has a common cold or the flu, treatment might not be sought immediately. A stiff neck and photophobia should soon follow, however, and these are classic symptoms of spinal meningitis.
Symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually appear suddenly. Symptoms of viral meningitis may appear suddenly or develop gradually over a period of days. For example, the symptoms of viral meningitis after mumps may take several days or weeks to develop.
About 25% of those who develop meningitis have symptoms that develop over 24 hours. The remainder generally become ill over one to seven days. Occasionally, if someone has been on antibiotics for another infection, the symptoms can take longer to develop or may be less intense. If someone is developing fungal meningitis (most commonly someone who is HIV positive), the symptoms may take weeks to develop.
In adults and older children:
Severe headache.
Stiff neck.
Dislike of bright lights.
Stiff neck and back
Sweating
Vomiting
Weight loss
Bed rest in the acute stage of symptoms will be necessary under medical supervision. Recovery is generally complete in the majority of cases and hospitalisation will only be necessary if a patient is extremely sick or if the diagnosis is in doubt.
The second form of meningitis is termed bacterial or septic meningitis. Most sufferers are under the age of 3 and symptoms may be difficult to interpret. The onset of symptoms may be acute or gradual and may include fever, headache, irritability, vomiting and neck stiffness. A purple red skin rash may be present. In the very young baby and there may be bulging of the skin above the forehead where the bones of the scalp have not yet completely joined. This is due to increased pressure inside the skull.
Fever and chills
Mental status changes
Nausea and vomiting
symptoms can include headache, fever, joint pain, neck stiffness among others. Meningitis can only be diagnosed correctly by a doctor and that will require some tests, usually a lumbar puncture or spinal tap. Viral meningitis is serious but not usually fatal, bacterial meningitis is very serious and will be fatal if not diagnosed and treated very quickly.
symptoms for meningitis, first you should have an idea about spinal meningitis itself. Spinal meningitis, or meningitis, is an infection caused generally by a bacteria or a virus in the meninges. The meninges are the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. The disease can be caused by other micro-organisms such as fungi.
The meningitis caused by bacteria is not seen as frequently as the one caused by virus and is more harmful. The common symptoms of meningitis include fever (with chill at times), bad headaches, vomiting, nausea, sound sensitivity, twitching, etc. The symptoms for both bacterial and viral meningitis can be the same at times.
