Bacterial meningitis history and symptoms
Bacterial meningitis Microchapters |
Diagnosis |
Treatment |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aysha Anwar, M.B.B.S[2]
Overview
History
- Help differentiate bactrial from other causes of meningitis
- Acute presentation vs chronic or subacute presentation
- Acute within 24 hours
- Subacute or chronic-1-7 days-viral or fungal
- Age of patient help determine the causative agent
- Detailed history of risk factors
- History of exposure
- History of immunosuppression
- History of concomittant sinusitis and otitis media- Strept pneumoniae
- Intake of unpasterurized milk and cheese-Listria monocytogenes
- Recent trauma or intracranial surgery
Symptoms
Common symptoms
The common symptoms of acute bacterial meningitis may include fever, neck stiffness and headache. However, this classic triad may not be present in all patients with bacterial meningitis and patients may present with variable symptomatology[1][2]
- Fever
- Headache-87%
- Stiffness of neck-83%
- Altered mental status
Other symptoms
Adults
- Photophobia (inability to tolerate bright light)
- Phonophobia (inability to tolerate loud noises)
- Irritability
- Altered mental status (in small children)
- Seizures (in 20-40% of cases)
- Vomiting may be present.
- Nausea
- Increased sleepiness
- Anorexia
Infants
- Swelling of the fontanelle (soft spot) may be present in infants (0-6 months).
- High pitch crying
- Hypothermia
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Difficulty breathing
References
- ↑ van de Beek D, de Gans J, Spanjaard L, Weisfelt M, Reitsma JB, Vermeulen M (2004). "Clinical features and prognostic factors in adults with bacterial meningitis". N. Engl. J. Med. 351 (18): 1849–59. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa040845. PMID 15509818.
- ↑ Durand ML, Calderwood SB, Weber DJ, Miller SI, Southwick FS, Caviness VS; et al. (1993). "Acute bacterial meningitis in adults. A review of 493 episodes". N Engl J Med. 328 (1): 21–8. doi:10.1056/NEJM199301073280104. PMID 8416268.