Infantile meningitis has symptoms similar to those that occur in adults, the main ones being high fever, vomiting and severe headache. In babies, you need to be aware of signs such as constant crying, irritability, drowsiness and, in the youngest, swelling in the region of the soft spot.
These symptoms appear suddenly and are often confused with flu symptoms or intestinal infections, so whenever they do, it is recommended to take the baby or child to the doctor immediately to assess the cause of the problem, as meningitis can leave sequelae such as hearing loss, vision loss and mental problems. See what are the consequences of meningitis.
Symptoms in the baby
In babies under 2 years of age, in addition to high fever, important signs and symptoms include constant crying, irritability, drowsiness, lack of courage, lack of appetite and stiffness in the body and neck.
In the case of babies under 1 year of age and with the softness still soft, the top of the head may become swollen, making it appear that the baby has a bump due to some blow.
Most of the time, meningitis has a viral cause, however, it can also be caused by bacteria, such as meningococcal. Bacterial meningitis is one of the most serious diseases in babies and children, can cause skin blemishes, convulsions and even paralysis, and can be transmitted to a baby at the time of delivery. Learn what to do to protect yourself and prevent the spread of bacterial meningitis.
Symptoms in children over 2 years
In children over 2 years old, the symptoms are usually:
- Sudden high fever; Strong and uncontrolled headache with conventional medication; Nausea and vomiting; Pain and difficulty in moving the neck; Difficulty concentrating; Mental confusion; Sensitivity to light and noise; Drowsiness and tiredness; Lack of appetite and thirsty.
In addition, when meningitis is of the meningococcal type, red or purple spots may appear on the skin of varying sizes. This is the most serious type of the disease, see more details about the symptoms and treatment of meningococcal meningitis.
When to go to the doctor
As soon as the symptoms of fever, nausea, vomiting and a severe headache appear, you should immediately go to the doctor for tests and check the cause of the problem.
It is common for children to be hospitalized to receive medication during treatment and, in some cases, parents also need to take medication to prevent contamination with the disease. See how treatment is done for each type of meningitis.
