Meningitis symptoms can vary depending on the persons age and the cause of the infection. However, both viral and bacterial meningitis often cause the same symptoms. Symptoms of meningitis can develop suddenly and may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light (bright light bothers the eyes)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Irritability
• Lack of energy or drowsiness

In bacterial meningitis, fever, headache, and neck stiffness can come on suddenly, and the condition can worsen rapidly. Additional symptoms of amebic meningitis may appear a few days after the initial symptoms. Infants with meningitis might have different symptoms, such as being cranky, feeding poorly, and being sleepy or hard to wake up. It may be hard to comfort them, even when theyre picked up and rocked, and their cry might be more high-pitched than usual. They also may have a fever or a lower-than-normal temperature. Sometimes they can have a stiff neck or a bulging fontanelle (soft spot on head) .

If you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis, seek immediate medical care. Early treatment of bacterial meningitis can prevent serious complications.