Confusion and decreased level of consciousness.
Seizures.
Sluggishness, muscle aches and weakness, and strange feelings ( such as tingling ) or weakness throughout the body.
Eye sensitivity and eye pain from bright lights.
Skin rash.
Dizzy spells.
Unusual symptoms of meningitis may develop in some people.
In babies, the sighn of meningitis may be a fever, irritability that is difficult to calm,
decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, and a shrill cry. Babies less than 18 months of age may not have neck stiffness.
Young children with meningitis may act like they have the flu, cough, or have trouble breathing.
Older adults and people of other medical conditions may have only a slight headache and fever.
How is meningitis diagnosed?
Health professionals diagnose meningitis using a medical history, a physical exam, and one or more tests. During a medical history, you will be asked whether you been exposed to organisms that can cause meningitis. You also will have a physical exam to look for signs of infection, such as a stiff neck and the inability when lying down to touch your chin to your chest without rasing your legs.
Lumbar puncture is the most important laboratory test for meningitis. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid is removed and tested for organisms that cause meningitis.
Other test may be done to confirm the diagnosis, including a blood culture , computed tomopraphy ( CT ) or magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) of the head, and biopsy of a skin rash.
