Symptoms of Meningitis

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The symptoms of meningitis vary and depend both on the age of the child and on the cause of the infection. Because the flu-like symptoms can be similar in both types of meningitis, particularly in the early stages, and bacterial meningitis can be very serious, it's important to quickly diagnose an infection.


The first symptoms of bacterial or viral meningitis can come on quickly or surface several days after a child has had a cold and runny nose, diarrhea and vomiting, or other signs of an infection. Common symptoms include:


fever
lethargy (decreased consciousness)
irritability
headache
photophobia (eye sensitivity to light)
stiff neck
skin rashes
seizures

Infants with meningitis may not have those symptoms, and might simply be extremely irritable, lethargic, or have a fever. They may be difficult to comfort, even when they are picked up and rocked.
Other symptoms of meningitis in infants can include:


jaundice (a yellowish tint to the skin)
stiffness of the body and neck (neck rigidity)
fever or lower-than-normal temperature
poor feeding
a weak suck
a high-pitched cry
bulging fontanelles (the soft spot at the top/front of the baby's skull)

Posted from kidshealth.org