The meninges, as explained by the Mayo Clinic, are made up of layers of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord. When these tissues and the cerebrospinal fluid become inflamed or infected, the result is called meningitis. The Mayo Clinic explains that swelling of the meninges can be the result of bacteria or viral infection. Depending on the cause of meningitis, the symptoms may resolve in a few weeks or it may create a life-threatening emergency. Viral meningitis, which is more common than bacterial meningitis, usually resolves without medication or other medical intervention. Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition that requires treatment. Infants thought to have meningitis should always be evaluated by a doctor.
Fever
An infant will have a high fever with meningitis. This temperature can be just above normal or alarmingly high. The infant may shake (get chills) from the temperature. Some sweating or skin clamminess is common with a high temperature. Always consult a physician before giving any fever-reducing medicines to an infant.
Vomiting
Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrician of DrGreene.com, explains that an infant may have several days of upper respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in the early stages of meningitis. An infant may vomit or appear to have nausea as a result of meningitis. Nausea in an infant can be seen as excessive drooling, lip smacking or retching (dry heaving).
Lethargy
The inflammation and high fever can make an infant extremely lethargic. She may not rouse easily from sleep or may sleep more than usual. Meningitis can also lead an infant to be listless or unusually still.
Neck Stiffness
A stiff neck is considered a hallmark symptom of meningitis, says the Mayo Clinic, but it may not be as common in newborns or infants. An infant may not turn his head at all, regardless of noise or bottle location, to avoid pain. Regardless of how young the infant is, he may use every bit of his muscle strength to avoid moving his neck. Very young infants who cannot control the neck muscles may still have some floppiness but will cry when the head and neck are moved. The infant's soft spot may bulge at the top of the head.
Change in Habits
An infant may not have any interest in eating or drinking with meningitis. This can cause serious complications, especially when a fever is present. An infant should be drinking plenty of fluids to maintain hydration. Seek medical help if your infant is not wetting her diapers as frequently as she normally does. Minimal wet diapers can be a sign that she is suffering from dehydration. An infant may be inconsolable or excessively irritable with meningitis. Movement may make the pain worse. It may seem as if the baby would prefer not to be held.
Other Symptoms
Some infants may have seizures with meningitis. Any sign of internal bleeding is a medical emergency. This can be seen as small purple spots on the skin. It is not unusual for an infant to have nasal congestion or an ear infection at the time or shortly before the other symptoms of meningitis appear. KidsHealth.org, a web resource provided by the Nemours Foundation, explains that some infants may appear to be sensitive to lights.
