clinical features of meningococcal meningitis

Last reviewed 01/2018

clinical features of meningococcal meningitis

The clinical features of meningitis include:

• non specific symptoms and signs:
  • fever - not always seen especially in neonates
  • nausea and vomiting
  • lethargy
  • irritable or unsettled mood
  • ill appearance
  • refusing food/drink
  • headache
  • muscle ache or joint pain
  • respiratory symptoms and signs or difficulty inbreathing (1)
    
    
• more specific signs and symptoms
  • non-blanching rash - keep in mind that the rash may be less visible in people with darker skin tones, in these patients check the soles of the feet palms of the hand and conjunctivae
  • stiff neck
  • altered mental state - which includes confusion, delirium, drowsiness, and impaired consciousness
  • shock
  • back rigidity
  • bulging fontanelle - in children younger than 2 years
  • photophobia
  • Kernig's sign is positive
  • Brudzinski's sign is positive
  • unconsciousness
  • toxic or moribund state
  • paresis
  • focal neurological deficit, including cranial nerve involvement and abnormal pupils
  • seizures (1)

Reference:

• 1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2010. Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia: Management of bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in children and young people younger than 16 years in primary and secondary care.