Introduction
In the initial phase of the disease, relatively unspecific symptoms usually occur. These include flu-like symptoms such as high fever, aching limbs, headaches, as well as nausea and vomiting. Those affected complain of a severe feeling of illness.
The symptoms usually develop within three to four days after infection with the pathogen. Only in the further course of the disease does a specific symptom of meningitis appear, the so-called neck stiffness (meningism). The head can no longer be directed towards the chest without severe pain, while turning the head usually causes fewer problems.
Unlike the brain itself, the meninges, which are inflamed during the disease, are supplied with nerve fibers, making them sensitive to pain. Therefore, pain occurs in the irritated state of the inflammation and, especially when the membranes are stretched. In order to test whether there is neck stiffness, the doctor has the child lie on his back stretched out.
For the examination, the doctor then passively lifts the child’s head. If there is neck stiffness, the child pulls the knees reflexively to reduce the resulting pain. This is because the spinal cord is also surrounded by meninges; if the head is tilted, these are stretched and pain is incurred.
By bending the knees, the stretching of the meninges is counteracted. In the context of meningitis, one speaks of a typical symptom triad consisting of the characteristic symptoms of fever, headache and neck stiffness. In addition to the typical symptoms such as fever, increased sensitivity to light and noise, a disturbance of the state of consciousness, neurological deficits and epileptic seizures can also occur.
How severe the symptoms are always depends on the type of pathogen. In the case of bacterial meningitis, the symptoms are usually more severe than in viral meningitis. A viral meningitis is more common than a bacterial inflammation and proceeds much more slowly and milderly, so that it is often accompanied by only mild flu symptoms and can recede on its own without treatment. As a complication, especially in the case of meningococcal pathogens, blood poisoning can occur, which is noticeable among other things by skin bleeding symptoms, paleness and changes in consciousness.
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