Signs and SymptomsMeningitis and encephalitis may start with flu-like symptoms and intensify over a few hours to a few days. Characteristic
signs and
symptoms of these two conditions may overlap and can include:
- Fever
- Severe persistent headache
- A stiff neck
- Sensitivity to light
- Mental changes
- Lethargy
Other symptoms may include confusion, nausea, vomiting and seizures. The typical rash of meningitis is red/purple and doesn’t go away when the bottom of a glass is pressed onto it. Elderly patients may be lethargic and show few other signs. Patients with compromised immune systems may have atypical symptoms. Infants may be irritable and cry when they are held, vomit, have body stiffness, have seizures, refuse food, and have bulging fontanels (the soft spots on the top of the head). It is important that early signs are reported to medical staff as patients with meningitis can rapidly deteriorate.
Encephalitis symptoms may also include neurological problems – difficulty with hearing or speech, loss of sensation, partial paralysis, seizures, hallucinations, muscle weakness, changes in personality, and coma.
Complications and Prognosis
The outcome of those with meningitis and encephalitis depends on the specific cause of the condition, the severity, the patient’s health and immune status, and how quickly the condition is identified and treated. Patients with mild cases may recover fully within a few weeks or may have persistent or permanent complications.
As many as 15-25% of newborns and 15% of other patients with bacterial meningitis die, even when treated appropriately and rapidly. Up to 15-25% of those who survive may have neurological problems including hydrocephalus, deafness, blindness, seizures, and/or some degree of impaired thinking. These complications may occur at any age, but newborns are at the highest risk.