More bleeding under the skin may cause the spots to turn dark red or deep purple. The rash may resemble large bruises. It’s harder to see the rash on darker skin. If you suspect meningitis, check lighter areas like the palms, eyelids, and inside the mouth.
In this post
How can you identify meningitis?
Symptoms of meningitis
- a high temperature (fever)
- being sick.
- a headache.
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck.
- a dislike of bright lights.
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness.
- seizures (fits)
What are 3 symptoms of meningitis?
Symptoms of meningitis, septicaemia and meningococcal disease include:
- a high temperature.
- cold hands and feet.
- vomiting.
- confusion.
- breathing quickly.
- muscle and joint pain.
- pale, mottled or blotchy skin.
- spots or a rash.
Where does a meningitis rash start?
The rash can appear anywhere on the body, and it may be easier to see on paler parts of the body, such as the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet. Usually, the rash is not raised, so the skin is unlikely to feel rough or bumpy. At first, the rash may be subtle, but it can spread to larger areas of skin.
How do I know if I have meningitis rash?
Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin. Spots/rash may fade at first. Keep checking. Fever with spots/rash that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.
How can you rule out meningitis at home?
Gently and slowly push on the back of your neck so that your head moves forward. For better results, have someone do this for you. Note if your hips and knees flex involuntarily as you raise your head. This is a positive Brudzinski sign, meaning that you may have meningitis.
Does meningitis go away by itself?
In most cases, there is no specific treatment for viral meningitis. Most people who get mild viral meningitis usually recover completely in 7 to 10 days without treatment. Antiviral medicine may help people with meningitis caused by viruses such as herpesvirus and influenza.
When should you suspect meningitis?
Common Signs and Symptoms of Meningitis
Fever, severe headache, and neck stiffness are the hallmark symptoms of meningitis. Others include: Nausea and vomiting. Confusion and disorientation (acting “goofy”)
What is the main cause of meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis.
How quickly does meningitis develop?
Typically, symptoms of bacterial meningitis develop within 3 to 7 days after exposure; note, this is not true for TB meningitis, which can develop much later after exposure to the bacteria. People with bacterial meningitis can have seizures, go into a coma, and even die.
What should you do if you suspect meningitis?
People with suspected meningitis will usually have tests in hospital to confirm the diagnosis and check whether the condition is the result of a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis usually needs to be treated in hospital for at least a week. Treatments include: antibiotics given directly into a vein.
What part of neck hurts with meningitis?
Meningitis can cause a stiff neck. This is because it causes inflammation and infection in the meninges surrounding the brain and spine. A person will likely feel the stiffness from the inflammation most noticeably in their neck, which is the most mobile area that the meninges cover.
What does a sepsis rash look like?
People with sepsis often develop a hemorrhagic rash—a cluster of tiny blood spots that look like pinpricks in the skin. If untreated, these gradually get bigger and begin to look like fresh bruises. These bruises then join together to form larger areas of purple skin damage and discoloration.
Where is a meningitis headache located?
The headache is generalized all over the head. Drowsiness and confusion may be present in the more severe cases. Seizures are rare in meningitis, but common in encephalitis which is an infection of the brain tissue. The onset of the headache and fever usually occurs quite rapidly.
What does a meningitis headache feel like?
A headache caused by meningitis is typically described as severe and unrelenting. It does not subside by taking an aspirin. Stiff neck. This symptom most commonly involves a reduced ability to flex the neck forward, also called nuchal rigidity.
What age group is at highest risk for contracting meningitis?
Infants, teens and young adults, and older adults have the highest rates of meningococcal disease in the United States.
Does meningitis respond to ibuprofen?
Several medications, including ibuprofen and naproxen, can help relieve pain. These medications also have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with some of the neck pain. The anti-inflammatory effect, however, is not actually strong enough to treat the inflammation of meningitis itself.
Does meningitis show up in blood work?
Blood tests can be normal in meningitis but sometimes may show signs of infection, such as elevated white blood cells in a complete blood cell count (CBC) test or elevated proteins in a total protein test.
What is stiff neck meningitis like?
Meningitis neck pain feels different. It gets worse when you stretch, and can involve more than just your neck and shoulder area. “Moving the neck up or down stretches the inflamed tissues of the meninges, which causes an intense, deep pain that may extend into the head or down the back,” says Even.
How long can meningitis go untreated?
Bacterial meningitis – bacterial meningitis has a sudden onset, and can cause serious health problems, or even death, within 24 hours if left untreated. If treated early, the symptoms of bacterial meningitis can improve in as little as 2-3 days.
Can you have meningitis and not know it?
Viral meningitis usually begins with symptoms of a viral infection, such as fever, a general feeling of illness (malaise), cough, muscle aches, vomiting, loss of appetite, and headache. However, occasionally, people have no symptoms at first.