When To Call a Doctor

Callor other emergency services right away if:

• You or your child has symptoms of severe meningitis, such as fever, seizures, and confusion.
• Your baby has signs of severe meningitis, such as trouble breathing or fever with a bulging soft spot on the head not caused by crying.

Call your doctor right away if:

• You or your child has symptoms of meningitis, such as severe and persistent headache, stiff neck, fever, rash, nausea, and vomiting.
• You or your child has viral meningitis and does not get better with home treatment after 3 days.
• You or your child is being treated for viral meningitis and develops signs of complications, such as a fever that lasts longer than 3 full days and does not go down during home treatment.
• Your baby has a fever that comes and goes, diarrhea, vomiting, a swollen abdomen, and a shrill cry.

Call a doctor soon if you think you may have been exposed to meningitis. You can be treated with antibiotics, which may keep you from getting the illness.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment.

Watchful waiting isn't appropriate if you think that you or your child has meningitis, because you can't tell what type of meningitis it may be. Call your doctor as soon as symptoms appear.

Who to see

The following health professionals can diagnose and treat meningitis:

• Pediatrician
• Family medicine physician or internist
• Emergency room doctor
• Pediatric nurse practitioner or family nurse practitioner
• Physician assistant

Specialists may be needed to treat meningitis, especially if complications develop:

• Infectious disease specialist
• Neurologist

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.