Meningitis Symptoms

Know What to Look For

You and your teen should know the red flags for meningitis. Meningococcal disease can be difficult to recognize.1,2 A teen with meningococcal disease may have some or all of the following symptoms, which may not be present at the same time1,2:

  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Confusion
  • Seizures
  • High fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity of eyes to light
  • Rash

Learn more about meningococcal disease

Act Fast

If your child has symptoms―especially if he or she has been around someone with meningitis―contact a doctor immediately. When it comes to treating this potentially deadly disease, speed is essential.2-4

Next: Teens at Risk of Meningitis

About Meningitis

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References

  1. Apicella MA. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
  2. Tunkel AR, van de Beek D, Scheld MW. Acute meningitis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010:1189-1229.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bacterial Meningitis. http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html. 2014. Accessed August 28, 2014.
  4. Stephens DS, Greenwood B, Brandtzaeg P. Epidemic meningitis, meningococcaemia, and Neisseria meningitidis. Lancet. 2007;369(9580):2196-2210.