Meningitis starts with an infection that develops in the throat, nose, ear or lungs. The incubation period of the disease is short, ranging between one and five days, and the onset is sudden.
The signs and symptoms of the disease are very difficult to recognize at its early stages since they may be similar to many common illnesses, such as flu. Meningitis is one of the most serious of all the acute diseases.
Early warning signs of the disease include:
* Leg pain
* Ice cold hands and feet
* Abnormally pale skin tone
More confirmatory signs and symptoms may take a day or two to be noticed and may typically include:
* High fever
* Severe headache
* Nausea accompanied with headache
* Seizures
* Photophobia (intolerance to bright light)
* Phonophobia (intolerance to loud noises)
* Stiff neck
* Excessive sleep or difficulty in waking up
* Reduced hunger and need for drinking water
* Skin rashes in select cases, for example
* meningococcal meningitis
* Altered sensorium
* The presence of positive Kernig's sign in which the patient lies supine, with the hip and knee flexed to 90 degrees. Pain limits passive extension of the knee.
* The presence of positive Brudzinski's sign, which can be recognized when flexion of the neck causes involuntary flexion of the knee and hip.
Symptoms in infants
Infants do not generally show the typical signs and symptoms of meningitis experienced by the adults. The distinguishing characteristics of the disease in this particular age group can include:
* Constant crying
* Excessive drowsiness or irritability
* Poor feeding or vomiting
* Leg pain
* High Fever
* Staring look
* Difficulty in breathing
* Trembling with cold
* Blemished skin, which might appear pale or blue in color
* A swelling in the soft area on top of the infant's head (fontanel)
* Rigidity in the neckline and body
* Infant may become difficult to console and even scream hard when lifted up.
If you or any of your family member shows signs and symptoms of meningitis you should immediately consult a health care professional.Viral meningitis can subside without treatment within a few days; however, bacterial meningitis is usually severe and can cause acute problems, such as hearing loss, blindness, loss of speech brain damage and paralysis. In cases of a bacterial infection, early treatment increases the possibility of early recovery and prevents the threat of serious
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