Adult meningitis awareness download meningitis now. Diagnosis, initial management, and prevention of meningitis. The main symptoms to look out for are fever, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, and drowsiness or altered consciousness. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes meninges surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
Frequency of signs and symptoms of meningitis in the older adult. The relationship of symptoms and signs to age and the reasons for consulting a. However, adults over 55 are at an increased risk of contracting the disease as our immune systems weaken as we get older. Download our signs and symptoms app for iphone or android. The swelling from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck. Clinical signs and symptoms are unreliable in distinguishing bacterial meningitis from the more common forms of aseptic meningitis. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours. These cards are small enough to fit in your wallet or purse. Most cases of meningitis in the united states are caused by a viral infection, but bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections are other causes. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, and neck stiffness. The classic symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache, photophobia.
Viral meningitis symptoms may also come on quickly or over several days. However, permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, and learning disabilities can result from the infection. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is essential to reduce. Symptoms of meningococcal disease can first appear as a flulike illness and rapidly worsen. Pdf diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis researchgate. Early diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis is critical, and a high. Meningitis can be hard to recognise in the early stages. Order a symptoms card call our freephone helpline 0808 80 10 388 or order online. This is normally caused by infection but can also have noninfectious causes. Whatever your age, its worth learning the signs and symptoms of meningitis. Learn how to the spot the early signs and symptoms of an infection.
People often confuse the early signs and symptoms of meningitis with the flu. In fact, meningitis may come on the heels of a flulike illness or infection. The first treatment in acute meningitis consists of promptly giving antibiotics and sometimes antiviral drugs. Meningitis occurs when the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. As the early symptoms and signs of bacter ial meningitis are. Bacterial meningitis remains a highly lethal disease in older adults, with mortality rates averaging 20% despite modern. The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Parental ignorance of such symptoms or of their importance may cause treatment delay, despite readily available. Symptoms can be similar to those of the common flu and can develop quickly, over a matter of hours. Bacterial meningitis symptoms may come on within hours or days. Bacterial meningitis in aging adults clinical infectious diseases.