The symptoms of meningitis C appear between 2 and 10 days after the person's contact with the bacteria responsible for this disease, Neisseria meningitidis , however the order and intensity of the symptoms can vary from person to person, which prevents the diagnosis from being performed quickly.
The main symptom of meningitis C is stiff neck, which may be accompanied by nausea, fever, headache and the presence of spots on the skin that can spread throughout the body as the disease progresses.
Meningitis C is a type of bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis characterized by inflammation of the meninges and which can leave sequelae or lead to death if treatment is not started promptly. Learn more about meningitis C.
Main symptoms
The most characteristic symptom of meningitis C is the stiff neck that results in difficulty in resting the chin against the chest. In addition, symptoms of meningitis C are:
- High fever; Headache; Large or small patches on the skin; Mental confusion; Sore throat; Vomiting; Nausea; Drowsiness; Difficulty waking up; Joint pain; Irritation; Photophobia; Tiredness; Lack of appetite.
When realizing these symptoms it is important to refer the person to the hospital as soon as possible so that the treatment can be started and the chances of complications decrease.
The diagnosis of meningitis is made based on the observation of the signs and symptoms presented by the person and is confirmed by the examination of lumbar puncture, which consists of laboratory analysis of a small amount of fluid that is removed from the spinal cord.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for meningitis C is done in hospital and with the use of antibiotics, since the transmission of this bacteria to other people is very easy, being necessary to keep the person in isolation until it does not represent a risk of contagion. In addition, hospitalization is important for the medical team to monitor the patient's health status and, thus, to avoid complications. See what are the consequences of meningitis.
The best way to prevent meningitis C is through vaccination, which can be done after 3 months of life, and should be reinforced in children up to 4 years old and in adolescents between 12 and 13 years old. Learn more about vaccines that protect against meningitis.
