Early symptoms of neonatal meningitis

Newborns are also very susceptible to diseases because they have weak resistance and low immunity, so bacterial infections and diseases are relatively common. Meningitis is a common disease in newborns and is a disease that parents are very worried about. Even meningitis in its early stages should not be ignored. Prevention is necessary for newborns, so what are the early symptoms of neonatal meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection of the delicate membranes between the skull and brain called meninges. Children aged two to three months may develop neonatal meningitis, whether it is a bacterial or viral infection, which can easily be fatal for them. For older children, if the meningitis is caused by a virus, it is not as serious and does not last as long, about ten days or so. But those caused by bacteria can be very serious.

High fever (40°C), stiff neck, severe headache, loss of appetite, confusion, vomiting, convulsions, fatigue, drowsiness, sensitivity to light, small blood spots on the skin, skin rash (especially in the armpits, hands and feet). These symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of a cold and are often the cause of misdiagnosis. Symptoms may change within one to two days, and some may become life-threatening within hours.

In infants and newborns, high fever, headache, and stiff neck are not typical symptoms, and sometimes hypothermia may occur instead. The symptoms experienced by this group of patients include: high-pitched and continuous crying, unusual drowsiness, poor appetite, extreme sensitivity, and some having swollen fontanelles.

In the elderly, the above symptoms may or may not appear, but they may show latent symptoms such as confusion and dullness.

Severe bacterial meningitis may also cause symptoms such as shock, coma, or convulsions (similar to epilepsy).