Meningitis is an illness caused by a virus, bacteria or some medications or illnesses that create inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord, explains KidsHealth.org, a medical resource produced by The Nemours Foundation. Viral meningitis, also called aseptic meningitis, is more common and less serious than bacterial meningitis. The symptoms of this illness resemble the flu, which make diagnosis more difficult, even in babies. The viruses responsible for causing this illness vary and can begin by infecting nearly any part of the body.
Mood
Meningitis in infants may cause symptoms that differ from those experienced by older children or adults. An infant with meningitis can become extremely irritable or lethargic. Sometimes these are the only signs of the illness in a baby. Rocking, holding, or any other attempt at comforting the infant may be futile, as movement aggravates other symptoms of the infection.
Bodily Symptoms
Due to the brain swelling that occurs in meningitis, an infant may develop body stiffness, most often affecting the neck, and the soft spots found on a baby's skull may bulge. Infant rigidity can be noticed when the head is not turned and the infant prefers to lie still, moving only the arms and legs, or not at all. An infant also can develop jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. BabyCenter.com suggests looking for cold hands and feet or visible changes to the skin, such as unusual spots of any color on any part of the body. This type of rash can indicate the infection has spread to the blood. Meningitis can cause the skin to be blotchy, pale or blue. In serious cases, a baby may struggle to breath or have seizures, but this is more common with bacterial meningitis.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Viral meningitis often goes undiagnosed because the symptoms so closely resemble the flu. Meningitis may be suspected when an infant has symptoms beyond those similar to the flu. In order to diagnose an infant who appears to have meningitis, a doctor will perform a lumbar puncture, states KidsHealth.org. A lumbar puncture consists of a syringe being inserted into the base of the spine to collect spinal fluid for testing.
BabyCenter.com suggests a headache is a primary symptom of meningitis, but this may be difficult to identify in an infant other than an increase in fussiness. Vomiting, fever, runny nose and diarrhea are other flu-like symptoms that can occur with meningitis. In most cases, meningitis can completely resolve within a week to 10 days without the need for medication or medical treatment, states KidsHealth.org.
Other Symptoms
A baby with meningitis may become sensitive to light, according to BabyCenter.com. It is also common for an infant to have a weak suck, making eating difficult, or the infant may even refuse food. The cry of a baby with meningitis may be strange and higher pitched than normal.
