Key Warning Signs Of Meningitis

Neck Stiffness

Neck stiffness is perhaps the most well-known symptom of meningitis. It is normally an early symptom of the condition, and the degree of stiffness worsens as the infection spreads. The stiffness is usually concentrated in the upper part of the patient's neck, and it is frequently accompanied by pain that does not resolve with a change of position. To assess the severity of neck symptoms, patients may wish to check whether they can turn their neck from side to side and whether they can comfortably touch their chin to their chest.

If any of these motions cause discomfort and the patient also has a fever or other possible symptoms of meningitis, an urgent medical evaluation should be completed. In addition to a stiff neck, many meningitis patients also experience muscle aches throughout the body. Rarely, some patients with this infection have reported back pain as well.

Sudden Headache

Although a sudden headache is a classic symptom of meningitis, many patients who have the condition present with mild or moderate headaches. These types of headaches cause pain across the entire head, and they may progress in severity. All types of headaches associated with meningitis are unrelenting; they cause constant pain that does not come and go.

Headaches are not easily detected in infants, but parents may notice the child's fontanel (a normal soft spot on a baby's skull) appears swollen as a result of the inflammation and fluid accumulation caused by this infection. Infants with headaches may cry excessively or be unusually fussy, and adults with headaches due to meningitis may experience mood swings and irritability. Since headache pain is subjective, doctors will also look for other signs of meningitis when assessing patients with sudden headaches.