Meningitis is a condition in which the meninges, a series of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, become inflamed due to a viral or bacterial infection. Depending on the type of infection, meningitis may go away after a few weeks, or it can be fatal. Early recognition of the symptoms as well as medical care are critical for a good prognosis.
Step 1
Look for early symptoms. Some of the early symptoms of meningitis include pain in the legs, extremely cold hands and feet, as well as unusually pale skin. While these symptoms do not definitively indicate meningitis, they can be an early signal for meningitis and bear close observation.
Step 2
Look for severe flu-like symptoms. These include a fever, a headache, and nausea and/or vomiting. These symptoms will strongly resemble the flu but are among the earliest definitive symptoms of meningitis.
Step 3
Look for neurological symptoms. These include a rigid or very stiff neck, sensitivity to light, seizures, as well as confusion or difficulty in concentrating, which can sometimes manifest as an inability to maintain eye contact.
Step 4
Look for a skin rash. In the case of meningitis that is caused by a virus or meningococcus bacteria, a skin rash that is red, flat and raised may cover the whole body or just the limbs.
Step 5
See a doctor to distinguish between bacterial and viral meningitis. The physician will be able to do a lumbar puncture to look for the presence of bacteria. Viral meningitis will often improve over the course of a few days, whereas bacterial meningitis is more serious and will often rapidly progress.
