{"id":9746,"date":"2019-08-11T12:21:39","date_gmt":"2019-08-11T12:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9746"},"modified":"2021-04-25T16:39:22","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T16:39:22","slug":"14-common-symptoms-of-bacterial-meningitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-symptoms-of-bacterial-meningitis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Bacterial meningitis is a scary and severe illness that can cause permanent health problems and even be dangerous. Bacterial meningitis is more common than most people realize, and it\u2019s highly contagious. It\u2019s often spread among children and young adults in school and college. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An infection that is left untreated or is not diagnosed before it enters the bloodstream is usually the cause of bacterial meningitis. There are also certain medical conditions that can make a person more at risk to contract meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of meningitis are often similar to the symptoms of other common illnesses and diseases, and many people take too long to be diagnosed and begin treatment. If left untreated, meningitis can be fatal. Knowing the common symptoms of the illness can help you identify it and seek medical treatment promptly. The sooner a patient begins treatment, the more likely they are to recover without complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the most common symptoms of bacterial meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stiff Neck<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A stiff neck<\/a> is a common symptom of bacterial meningitis, and something many people look for when diagnosing themselves. While it is a symptom, you can have meningitis and not have a stiff neck. Some people experience severe pain and stiffness, and others just experience minor discomfort. The stiffness usually occurs when a person tries to look down or tuck their chin to their chest. In fact, many doctors will ask a patient to attempt this to confirm or rule out the possibility of meningitis before performing other more invasive tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A stiff neck is usually one of the first symptoms to appear and one of the first to go away. Many people can begin moving their necks normally a few days after they begin treatment. Some people may have lingering pain or stiffness for a few weeks after they recover from meningitis. It should not cause long-term problems or pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Headache<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headaches <\/a>are common with many illnesses and often occur alongside fevers. When a person has meningitis, they can experience a severe headache. They may struggle to find relief, and the pain may be relentless. Many people compare the headaches they experience with meningitis with the worst migraines imaginable. They may take medication that doesn\u2019t help or experience other symptoms as a result of the headache. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pain can be so bad that it causes some people to be nauseous and even dizzy. Lying down and sleeping doesn\u2019t help either. Headaches can last for a long time after meningitis has been treated. Once treatment begins, they tend to get better. Some people suffer ongoing migraines for months after a meningitis diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The severity of the headache is one of the things that makes people seek medical attention. Doctors also consider the severity when determining if it\u2019s possible that a person may have meningitis and before ordering more tests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Light Sensitivity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For some people, the first symptom of meningitis <\/a>is light sensitivity. A person may wake up and be unable to open their eyes because of the sunlight or light in a room. They may develop a severe headache after looking at a computer or phone screen or while watching TV. The headache may be aggravated by more light. Some people have a stronger aversion to sunlight than artificial light, but for most people, any light is bothersome. Some people experience headaches, other experience eye pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people even become nauseous as a result of this symptom. There are some other illnesses that can cause light sensitivity, such as sinus infection, eye problems, and migraines. Once treatment begins, the light sensitivity should go away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people do experience light sensitivity for a few days after treatment starts, and even after they completely recover from the condition. If you experience this symptom, you should seek medical attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Nausea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nausea <\/a>can mean a lot of things. It can be a sign of pregnancy, a symptom of the stomach flu, or just the result of indigestion. Many people don\u2019t think much about nausea unless it is persistent or extreme. Many people who have meningitis report feeling nauseous in the days leading up to the diagnosis. Nausea can be felt alone or may accompany other symptoms. Some people experience nausea as a result of the headaches and dizziness that are also symptoms of meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people only experience when they eat or smell food. Others may become nauseous anytime they sit up or get out of bed. Nausea can affect people differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While nausea may not be an obvious sign of meningitis without other symptoms being present, it should be cause for concern with if it lasts more than a couple of days. Don\u2019t brush it off and see a doctor if you have nausea and suspect you may have meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Fatigue<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s normal to feel tired and exhausted when you are fighting off an illness. Since meningitis symptoms often mimic those of other less serious illnesses, many people assume the fatigue <\/a>they are feeling is normal and don\u2019t worry too much about it. They may try to get extra sleep and rest. It\u2019s only when they realize that the fatigue is no improving that they become alarmed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the more fatigue a person experiences, the more the infection has spread and the greater the toll it is taking on the body. Once the meningitis is diagnosed, doctors will start antibiotics and help the patient fight off the infection that is causing the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fatigue should improve as the infection leaves the body. Some people will feel tired in the days after recovering from meningitis. Once the proper treatment has been given, it is okay to rest and sleep to help fight fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. High Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fever <\/a>is normally one of the first signs that a person is sick. With meningitis, the fever is often extremely high and comes on quickly. In children and the elderly, the fever may become so severe that they have seizures, become dehydrated, or even become unresponsive. This can be terrifying and is very dangerous. If you have a high fever and any other symptoms of meningitis, you should bring them to the attention of your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High fevers that last for long periods of time and are not treated can cause permanent damage. Even if you don\u2019t think you have been exposed to an infection that could have caused meningitis, it\u2019s still a good idea to seek medical attention to rule out another serious type of infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, a doctor may identify the cause of meningitis and treat it before meningitis occurs. Fever reducers are not likely to have an effect on a fever caused by meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. No Appetite<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t feel good, you probably don\u2019t feel like eating. It\u2019s normal to lose your appetite when you are battling an illness. Even something as simple and mild as the common cold can make you not want to eat. Usually, this feeling goes away within a day or two, and you start to eat, rebuild your strength, and feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have meningitis, you may find that you have no appetite <\/a>for several days or get sick anytime you smell or see food. Since this is not considered a serious symptom to many people, it is often ignored. It\u2019s only when it occurs with other symptoms that it becomes a cause for concern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t had an appetite for more than a couple of days, you should talk to a doctor. It may be something simple and easy to treat, or it may be something more serious such as meningitis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Confusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Feeling sick puts a strain on your mind and body, so it\u2019s not uncommon for people to feel confused while they are sick. If that confusion gets to be too severe, it can mean that something more serious is going on than just a sinus infection<\/a> or a head cold. Meningitis can cause seizures and swell on the brain. This can impair your mental function and make it hard to get through the day. Some people recognize that something is right at the first sign of confusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others don\u2019t realize the confusion could be caused by an infection and just brush it off. Confusion is never a good sign, and it shouldn\u2019t be ignored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meningitis can be dangerous if left untreated, and once a person starts showing signs of confusion, it means meningitis may have become severe. Immediate treatment is necessary and can only occur after a proper diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Chills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who experience the onset of bacterial meningitis notice an increase in body temperature as the body starts to fight back against the infection. A high fever is one of the first signs of infection with meningitis bacteria. The patient may begin to experience a rapid elevation in their core temperature above the 10-degree mark. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This high temperature can lead to adverse and dangerous complications with the brain. As a result, the doctor will intervene when the temperature exceeds 99-degrees. The physician uses antibiotics <\/a>to kill off the bacteria and return the body to normal temperature levels. Most patients respond to the treatment and make a full recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the patient is dealing with a fever, they may find that they start to develop chills as well. Chills occur due to the body catching up to the new temperature setpoint set by the nervous system. As the body catches up, the patient feels cold, even if they are under the covers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Rash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some patients may start to notice changes in their skin color as the bacteria spreads throughout the body. It’s common for patients to experience a reddish-hue to the skin, and it’s a sign of blood vessels bursting under the skin’s surface. These broken blood vessels cause the appearance of a rash <\/a>in the affected individual. The most common areas for the outbreak to appear are on the cheeks, back, and legs of the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some patients may also notice the onset of petechiae on the eyelids. Petechiae are small, flat discolorations of the skin that are the size of a pinhead. Doctors are unable to explain the mechanism behind the occurrence of petechiae, but they are confident that the appearance of this rash always occurs alongside a more severe underlying condition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Petechiae rarely presents any other symptoms of irritation like you would expect with a typical rash. After receiving treatment, the rash should subside in a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Jerky Movements in Infants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The cerebellum <\/a>is the region of the brain responsible for controlling fine motor skills. This area controls the movement of the limbs and the hands, and when it experiences dysfunction, the patient may have problems with mobility. The cerebellum interprets electrical signals entering the brain, and it also sends out electrical messages to the limbs and organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with a meningitis infection may experience problems with balance and coordination, and they may also develop jerking motions. These symptoms are far more common in infants with meningitis infection. Babies are yet to develop a robust immune system, and they succumb to the effects of the disease far more readily than adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the affected infant may start to exhibit signs of jerking movements, which may cause alarm in the parents. The infant requires immediate medical treatment for their condition, or they run the risk of further damage to the brain and nervous system of the child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Crying in Infants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meningitis typically occurs more frequently in infants and young children than in adults. Children have weak immune systems, and they are unable to fight off the bacterial assault of the disease. Most children pick up the pathogen <\/a>from other classmates at nursery school, or they may contract it after being brought home from the hospital after birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Infants and young children cannot communicate appropriately with their parents. As a result, they rely on visual and verbal cues to express their physical situation with their parents. Babies infected with meningitis will frequently cry in an attempt to catch their parent\u2019s attention and let them know something is wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, crying is a relatively healthy thing for most babies to do, and typically isn\u2019t much of a cause for concern with new parents. However, when crying persists, the parents should take it as a sign that something is wrong with their child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Infants Refusing to Feed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meningitis affecting infants is a challenging disease for both parents and doctors to diagnose. The first sign of infection in infants is an increase in crying. Babies will cry to attract the attention of their parents to their physical condition. However, some parents may confuse this with normal behavior in the initial stages of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the bacteria continue to spread in the child\u2019s body, other behavioral disorders<\/a> start to occur. Parents may find that their child starts to refuse to feed. Turning away from feeding is a sign that something is severely wrong with the child, and they require immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pediatrician can quickly identify the signs of meningitis infection, and they will take the appropriate actions to treat the child. Your baby may require an overnight stay at the hospital so that the doctors can keep a close eye on them while they recover from the effects of the infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Seizure and Coma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Meningitis is a devastating disease for anyone to have to deal with at any stage of their life. The effects of the infection take a toll on both the body and the brain. If meningitis starts to cause symptoms of encephalitis, (swelling of the brain,) the patient may be experiencing a life-threatening condition. The swelling of the brain increases inter-cranial pressure, and the affected individual may notice that they start to pass out, or they want to sleep all of the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patient may also develop the onset of a severe headache that does not go away, even with medical treatment. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the affected individual is at risk of developing a seizure<\/a>. The seizure may be a once-off occurrence, or they may come in swarms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the patient does not receive prompt medical treatment at this stage of the infection, then they run the risk of falling into a coma. Most people that fall into a coma as a result of meningitis infection never recover. However, with correct medical treatment, the chances of the patient reaching this stage of the disease are minimal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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