How to Recognize the Symptoms of Meningitis

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membrane around the central nervous system, including the brain and spine. It can be caused by many things, but most commonly it is a result of a viral or bacterial infection.

Instructions

Recognize the Symptoms of a Viral or Bacterial Infection

• 1

  Take the patient's temperature. Like all viral or bacterial infections, a fever is usually involved. The fever will be mild, and the illness may initially appear to look like the common flu.

• 2

  Expect other flu and cold symptoms, such as a runny nose, a sore throat and the chills. These symptoms may be mild, but they can also be very intense.

• 3

  Look for signs of a violent cold or flu. If the patient begins vomiting or experiences diarrhea on a serious level, a doctor should be contacted.

• 4

  Check up on the patient regularly, especially if she is lethargic and jumpy. A severe viral or bacterial infection can cause lower levels of consciousness and extreme irritability.

Recognize the Symptoms of Meningitis

• 5

  Ask the patient if he suffers from a headache. A headache, especially a severe headache, is characteristic of meningitis patients.

• 6

  Expose the patient to different levels of light. Meningitis patients often have photophobia and are very sensitive to bright lights.

• 7

  Test the mobility of the patient's neck. Ask the patient if they can touch their chest with their chin easily. That particular action is very difficult for a patient suffering from meningitis, and a stiff neck is one of the most common symptoms.

• 8

  Check the patient's alertness. Try to have a conversation. Meningitis patients can suffer from drowsiness, confusion and even delirium. If the patient cannot hold a conversation, the illness can be very serious.

• 9

  Be prepared for the patient to experience seizures. A third of all meningitis patients will experience seizures during the illness. By this time, the patient should already be in a hospital or en route.