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Meningitis is an infection and swelling, called inflammation, of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are called meninges.
The inflammation from meningitis most often triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck.
Viral infections are the most common cause of meningitis in the United States. Bacteria, parasites and fungi also can cause it. Sometimes meningitis improves in a few weeks without treatment. But meningitis also can cause death. It often needs quick treatment with antibiotics.
Seek medical care right away if you think that you or someone in your family has meningitis. For meningitis caused by bacteria, early treatment can prevent serious complications.Early meningitis symptoms may be like those of the flu. Symptoms may come on over several hours or over a few days.
Symptoms in people older than 2 years
The following may be symptoms of meningitis in people older than 2 years:
Sudden high fever.
Stiff neck.
Bad headache.
Nausea or vomiting.
Confusion or trouble concentrating.
Seizures.
Sleepiness or trouble waking.
Sensitivity to light.
No desire to eat or drink.
Skin rash sometimes, such as in meningococcal meningitis.
Symptoms in newborns and infants
The following may be symptoms of meningitis in newborns and infants:
High fever.
Constant crying.
Being very sleepy or irritable.
Trouble waking from sleep.
Being not active or sluggish.
Not waking to eat.
Poor feeding.
Vomiting.
A bulge in the soft spot on top of the baby's head.
Stiffness in the body and neck.Mental and physical health are interconnected. We, as a society, need to work on emphasizing the importance of the two. This would prevent people developing physical and mental diseases at earlier and earlier ages.Early onset dementiaMovement disordersSymptoms of movement disordersCauses of movement disordersEpithelial disorderDDX3X Related Developmental DisorderNecrosis gangrene