Is There Always Nausea with Meningitis?
- Although nausea is one of the symptoms of meningitis, the patient can have meningitis with no nausea. However, nausea is often present with a headache and rise in temperature.
- Symptoms include headache; elevated temperature accompanied by nausea, vomiting and headache; fever with rash on the skin; disorders of consciousness; lack of awareness; convulsions; stiff back and/or neck; fever with back or neck pain; and sleepiness.
- The most visible sign of meningitis is a headache which intensifies rapidly. The pain is so intense that adults whimper and children scream and cry. Nausea and vomiting may soon follow.
- Meningitis is mostly caused by bacteria and viruses. It spreads from person to person or animal to person, through the saliva, or by touching a contaminated object. It can also be caused by medications and other illnesses.
- Risk factors in contracting meningitis include age, living in a community group, pregnancy, working with animals, and a compromised immune system.
- Meningitis can be severe, and the longer you have the disease without treatment, the greater risk you run of seizures, permanent neurological damage, and even death.