Meningitis is an infection of the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. The illness can be viral or bacterial. Bacterial meningitis is less common, but it's also much more serious than viral meningitis. Meningitis comes on suddenly and worsens very quickly after initial symptoms. Classic symptoms of meningitis include a fever, headache and stiff neck. Newborns and infants have different symptoms than adults when they contract meningitis.
Fever
A baby with meningitis usually has a high fever. Any fever in a baby who's younger than 3 months old requires a call to the pediatrician. The fever may cause chills, which manifest in a newborn as shaking and shivering. Her hands and feet may feel very cold. Her skin may look mottled or blotchy.
Crying and Fussiness
Meningitis causes head and neck pain, and a newborn or infant with the illness often cries and fusses constantly. The crying may be a high-pitched scream or screech, and may worsen when he is picked up. The baby is irritable and hard to comfort. He often is lethargic and sleepy. He may refuse to eat and have vomiting or diarrhea.
Skin Rash
A baby with meningitis may develop a septicemic rash from blood poisoning. This looks like tiny red or brown specks or spots on the skin. To determine whether a rash is septicemic, press a clear glass tumbler against the spots. If they don't fade under the pressure of the glass, seek emergency medical care.
Other Symptoms
Newborns with meningitis may be limp and floppy, or they may hold their bodies very stiffly. When the doctor checks your baby, he may notice that her reflexes are slower than normal. Meningitis in a newborn can cause difficulty breathing, and your baby may take rapid, shallow breaths. She may be pale or have a bluish tinge to her skin. These are all signs that you should seek immediate care for your baby.
