Bacterial Meningitis
A life-threatening infection of the membranes covering the brain, causing fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and confusion
Symptoms
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Neck stiffness
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
- Difficulty concentrating
- Skin rash (in meningococcal infection)
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma (severe cases
A life-threatening infection of the membranes covering the brain, causing fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and confusion, which can progress rapidly to coma. Common causes include pneumococcus and meningococcus bacteria. It is a medical emergency requiring immediate intravenous antibiotics (often before confirmatory tests) plus dexamethasone to reduce inflammation-related complications. Lumbar puncture confirms diagnosis. Vaccination (pneumococcal, meningococcal, Hib) is the most effective prevention. Surgery is reserved for complications like brain abscess or hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement.
