Spinal meningitis, which is often simply referred to as meningitis, is an inflammatory condition that affects the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. There are two major types of spinal meningitis, bacterial and viral. The symptoms of spinal meningitis are similar between these two disease classifications, but patients with bacterial meningitis often develop more serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms. Patients who develop any of the symptoms of spinal meningitis should seek medical care immediately to avoid additional medical complications.
High Fever
One of the most common symptoms of spinal meningitis is a high fever. An increase in body temperature is part of the immune system's natural response and helps limit the spread of pathogens through the body. A high fever can develop over a short span of a few hours or may not develop for 1 to 2 days following infection, explain health professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Spinal meningitis patients can also experience sweating, chills or body aches in conjunction with fever symptoms.
Stiff Neck
Inflammation along the spinal cord can spread to muscles and tissues that surround this region of the body. As a result, patients with spinal meningitis commonly develop a stiff neck as a symptom of this infection, reports KidsHealth, a children's health information website supported by the Nemours Foundation. Affected patients may find it difficult to move the neck due to sensations of tenderness or pain.
Headache
Patients with this infection can also develop severe inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain. When this occurs, an affected patient can develop a severe, persistent headache as a symptom of spinal meningitis. Headache pain can be throbbing or intense and may develop through the entire head.
Nausea and Vomiting
Painful headache symptoms can lead to stomach upset symptoms in certain patients with spinal meningitis. These stomach-related symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, explains MedlinePlus, an online medical encyclopedia established by the National Institutes of Health. Patients who experience nausea or vomiting may also develop a significantly decreased appetite.
Increased Light Sensitivity
Spinal meningitis can cause increased light sensitivity--a condition referred to as photophobia--in affected patients, warns KidsHealth. This symptom may also exacerbate headache or stomach upset side effect in certain patients.
Fatigue
This infection can cause patients to appear unusually fatigued or lethargic. A parent or loved one can have a difficult time waking an affected patient from sleep, reports MayoClinic.com. Patients may sleep for long periods of time throughout the day or may be too weak to participate in usual daily activities.
Confusion or Irritability
Brain inflammation caused by this infection can lead to symptoms of confusion, decreased concentration or irritability in certain patients. Young children or infants with spinal meningitis may cry more frequently or be unable to maintain eye contact, warns MayoClinic.com.
Skin Rash
Patients with certain forms of this infection can develop skin rash symptoms, explains KidsHealth. Affected patients may notice the appearance of red, irritated patches of skin across the body, which may persist for several days.
Seizures
Spinal meningitis can lead to the development of unusual muscle spasms or seizures. These symptoms occur most frequently in patients with more advanced forms of this infection, explains the CDC.
