When you're a parent, you become all too familiar with the symptoms of contagious illnesses that children tend to pick up, like colds and the flu. As your child gets older, it's a good idea to make yourself aware of the symptoms of a serious illness called meningitis.
With meningitis, inflammation affects tissues called meninges that surround the brain and spinal cord. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can cause it. But teens and young adults often have a high risk of bacterial meningitis – especially those who live with lots of other people in close quarters, where the disease spreads easily. Some examples are boarding schools, college dorms, and military barracks. Vaccines can help protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis
It's important to know the symptoms of bacterial meningitis because fast treatment in the hospital can keep the disease from leading to long-term health problems or even death. Here's how to spot the warning signs of this disease in your teen or young adult.
What Are the Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis symptoms tend to come on fast – within a few hours to a couple of days. Or they can start days after another infectious illness, like a cold.
The symptoms can include:
- A neck that's stiff with less range of motion or painful when bending it forward
- Flu-like symptoms
- High fever
- Discomfort from light
- Confusion or drowsiness
- Bruises anywhere on the body
- A red-purple rash that looks like pin-prick spots or splotches. The rash can be harder to see on darker skin, so check lighter areas like the palms, soles of the feet, and roof of the mouth.
- Severe headache
- Upset stomach and throwing up
- Feeling cranky
How Can You Tell the Difference Between Flu and Meningitis Symptoms?
Both the flu and bacterial meningitis can come on fast and cause symptoms like sneezing, coughing, drowsiness, and a headache. But the flu isn't likely to cause symptoms such as a stiff neck, red-purple rash, sensitivity to light, or bruises. Neither is COVID-19, another common contagious illness.
One thing that all of the illnesses have in common? Safe and effective vaccines are available to help prevent them.
Why Are Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms an Emergency?
The speed of the infection and the complications it can cause make bacterial meningitis an emergency. So if you think your teen or young adult might have symptoms of bacterial meningitis, take them to the emergency room (or tell them to go, if they live away from home) right away. Or call 911.
Bacterial meningitis tends to get worse fast. Without quick treatment, it can lead to severe problems like seizures and stroke. And it has the potential to cause lasting health problems like:
- Trouble remembering and focusing
- Issues with balance, coordination, and movement
- Loss of some vision or hearing
- Brain damage
The illness can also become life-threatening. To prevent these worst-case scenarios, it's crucial to start treatment as soon as possible.
What Can You Expect if You Get Help for Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms?
If your teen or young adult goes to the ER because of their symptoms, they'll need some tests to find out if bacterial meningitis is the cause. These often include:
- A physical exam
- Tests of blood, urine, or mucus
- A lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap. In this procedure, a doctor puts a needle into the lower back to collect fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, then checks it for bacteria.
If the doctor thinks your teen or adult has bacterial meningitis, they'll likely start treatment before they get the test results. The treatment is medicine called antibiotics that your child receives through a needle in a vein (IV), usually in the hand or arm. The antibiotics help clear up the meningitis germs, which enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord. Some people also need medicines called steroids to lower the brain inflammation that happens with the disease.
After treatment, the symptoms of bacterial meningitis may linger for up to a week or longer. It may take your child weeks or months to feel back to 100%. If your child had close contact with anyone else while sick, make sure your child lets those people know ASAP so they can get preventive care if needed.
What if Your Child Has Been Exposed to Someone With Symptoms?
On the other hand, call the doctor right away if your teen or young adult finds out that they had close contact with someone whose symptoms were due to bacterial meningitis. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics that can help prevent your child from becoming sick.
What's the Bottom Line for Parents?
By keeping the symptoms of bacterial meningitis in mind, you can act fast to help prevent serious, long-lasting health problems if your teen or young adult comes down with warning signs. You might want to think about teaching your child the symptoms to be aware of, too.
Also, know that vaccines are available to help protect your child from getting sick from bacterial meningitis, the most common type of the disease. The best thing you can do to help your child avoid symptoms of the disease is to make sure they get vaccinated, especially if you plan on sending them to a college or boarding school.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: DigitalVision/Getty Images
SOURCES:
Cleveland Clinic: "Bacterial Meningitis," "Flu (Influenza)," "COVID-19 (Coronavirus)."
Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Bacterial Meningitis."
Mayo Clinic: "Meningitis," "Influenza (Flu)," "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)."
Nemours KidsHealth: "Meningococcal Vaccines for Kids & Teens."
HealthyChildren.org: "Meningococcal Disease in Preteens, Teens & Young Adults."
CDC: "About Bacterial Meningitis."
Boston Children's Hospital: "Bacterial Meningitis."
Meningitis Research Foundation: "What Is the 'Meningitis Rash'?"
