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Types of Meningitis Symptoms

Bacterial and viral infections of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord cause meningitis. The viral form of meningitis tends to not cause major problems, but the bacterial form can cause lifelong disability and even death. Recognizing the symptoms of meningitis and getting prompt medical attention are essential for patients.

  1. Symptoms in Children and Adults

    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists headache, high fever and neck stiffness as the most common symptoms of meningitis in people older than 2 years of age. People with meningitis may also experience confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, sensitivity to light, skin rash, sleepiness and vomiting. With bacterial meningitis, these problems can develop suddenly or over a 48-hour period and may be preceded by coldness in the hands and feet, leg pain and loss of skin color. Symptoms of viral meningitis usually appear between three and seven days after infection.

    Symptoms in Infants

    • Infants may show different or additional symptoms of meningitis. Babies who act especially irritable, cry constantly, cry harder when picked up, eat poorly or sleep constantly may have meningitis, especially if another person in the household currently has the disease or has recently recovered from it.

    Treatments

    • The leading causes of bacterial meningitis are the meningococcal bacterium Neisseria meningitides; the pneumococcal bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia; and Haemophilus influenza type b, or Hib. Viral meningitis is most often caused by enteroviruses. Bacterial meningitis--particularly the form caused by meningococcal bacteria--can be spread from person to person.
      Individuals with bacterial meningitis must begin taking antibiotics shortly after they start having symptoms. Physicians will prescribe different antibiotics depending on which bacteria caused the disease, and people close to an infected individual will have to take antibiotics as well if the meningitis is due to meningococcal bacteria infection.
      Viral meningitis will not respond to antibiotic therapy, but patients may be prescribed medications to relieve symptoms.

    Prognosis

    • Appropriate treatment reduces the mortality rate of bacterial meningitis to below 15 percent, but brain damage and hearing loss occur more frequently. The CDC notes that cases of viral meningitis usually resolve within 10 days.

    Vaccines

    • Vaccines can protect children and adults from Hib, meningococcal and S. pneumoniae infections. Every state but Alabama, Montana and South Dakota mandates Hib vaccination for school-age children. All but 14 states require the meningococcal vaccine for people enrolling in college, and 18 states require the vaccine for middle school and high school students.
      Thirty states require children to receive a vaccine that provides protection against seven strains of S. pneumoniae, and 25 states require residents of long-term care facilities to receive a vaccine that protects recipients from 23 strains of S. pneumoniae. See Resources to review the vaccination requirements in your state.

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