1. Take the Meningitis Quiz
2. View the Ear Infection Slideshow
3. Childhood Illnesses Parents Should Know

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP

Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.

View Full Profile

In infants, the signs and symptoms of meningitis are not always obvious due to the infant's inability to communicate symptoms. Therefore, caregivers (parents, relatives, guardians) must pay very close attention to the infant's overall condition. The following is a list of possible symptoms seen in infants or children with bacterial meningitis (bacterial meningitis at any age is considered a medical emergency):

• Classic or common symptoms of meningitis in infants younger than 3 months of age may include some of the following:
• Decreased liquid intake
• Vomiting
• Rash
• Stiff neck
• Increased irritability
• Increased lethargy
• Fever
• Bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the head)
• Seizure activity
• Classic symptoms in children older than 1 year of age are as follows:
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Fever
• Altered mental status (seems confused or odd)
• Lethargy
• Seizure activity
• Neck stiffness or neck pain
• Knees automatically brought up toward the body when the neck is bent forward or pain in the legs when bent (called Brudzinski sign)
• Inability to straighten the lower legs after the hips have already been flexed 90 degrees (called Kernig sign)
• Rash

Symptoms of viral meningitis most commonly resemble those of the flu (fever, muscle aches, cough, headache but some may have one or more of the symptoms listed above for bacterial meningitis), but the symptoms are usually considerably milder.

Must Read Articles Related to Meningitis in Children

Brain Infection Our brain, the spinal cord, and its surrounding structures could become infected by a large spectrum of germs (that is, microorganisms). Bacteria and viruses ar...learn more >>

Immunization Schedule, Children Vaccinations are some of the most important tools available for preventing disease. Most children get all their shots during childhood. Parents should consult t...learn more >>

See the Entire Meningitis in Children Topic Guide »