How Do I Know If I Have Meningitis?

What Is Meningitis?

Simply put, meningitis is inflammation of the meninges or the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord. An infection caused by a virus, bacteria, fungi, or a parasite/ameba, often leads to inflammation. Occasionally, meningitis is non-infectious and can be caused by diseases like lupus or cancer, medications, a head injury, or surgery on the brain or spinal cord. Symptoms are typically the same regardless of the cause, but treatments vary widely. For this reason, it’s crucial to determine why a person develops meningitis as soon as possible.

What Are Meningitis Symptoms?

The most common symptoms of meningitis, regardless of its cause, are fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea/vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. Some people have only one or two of these symptoms, some have all of them, and some have more unusual symptoms such as poor appetite, seizures, limb pain, cold hands and feet, a skin rash (known as meningitis rash), or difficulty waking from sleep. The variability in symptoms can sometimes make it difficult for the average person to recognize when medical care is necessary.

What Are The Different Types Of Meningitis?

Meningitis is categorized into several types:

Viral Meningitis: The most frequent viral cause in the United States is non-polio enteroviruses (such as echoviruses). Other viral infections that can lead to meningitis include herpesviruses (like Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex viruses, and the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles), as well as influenza virus, West Nile virus, mumps virus, and measles virus. Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis. Antiviral medicine is typically used to treat viral meningitis. 

Bacterial Meningitis: The most common bacterial infections in the United States include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group B Streptococcus, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Neisseria meningitidis can be prevented with a meningococcal vaccine. Bacterial meningitis is the most severe form of meningitis. Doctors must treat bacterial meningitis quickly, as it can become life-threatening very fast. 

Fungal Meningitis: This type can arise from infections caused by fungi such as Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Coccidioides, and Candida. People who have compromised immune systems are more susceptible. Antifungal medications are used to treat fungal meningitis. 

Parasitic Meningitis: This less common form is caused by parasites from raw or undercooked food or the environment. Eosinophilic meningitis (AEM) is a rare form of parasitic meningitis caused by a parasitic infection, typically from the larvae of the rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis).

Amoebic Meningitis: This extremely rare type in the United States is caused by infection by the single-celled organism Naegleria fowleri.

Noninfectious Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges not caused by infectious agents can be due to cancer, systemic lupus erythematosus, medications, chemicals, head injury, and brain surgery.

Meningitis may also be considered acute or chronic. Acute meningitis is a rapid-onset bacterial infection that progresses within hours to several days. It happens when bacteria bypass the immune system and infect the brain, damaging tissue. In contrast, chronic meningitis is a prolonged condition caused by slow-growing organisms like fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which infiltrate the membranes and fluid around the brain. Chronic meningitis typically takes two weeks or more to develop. 

You may have heard the term aseptic meningitis. This refers to any form of meningitis where the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain and spine tests negative for bacteria. This can mean either that the bacteria causing the meningitis are hard to culture or that the meningitis is not bacterial in origin. The most common cause of aseptic meningitis is viral infection. 

When Should I Seek Medical Care?

Early medical intervention for meningitis can make all the difference. Even when the disease is diagnosed early, and appropriate treatment is started, 5-10 percent of hospitalized patients may die within two days of the onset of their symptoms. Among children and teens who die of meningitis, 90 percent succumb within only 24 hours of the onset of their symptoms. If you or someone you know is experiencing meningitis signs, seek medical care immediately.  

What Can Happen If Treatment Is Delayed?

A delay in treatment can happen for many reasons. Perhaps you thought it was just a migraine, but it didn’t go away. Maybe you called your doctor, and they said your symptoms seemed mild and you should wait it out. Or you may have gone to the ER. They diagnosed you with meningitis, but they had trouble determining the cause. Whatever the reason, a delay in treatment can often have disastrous consequences. 

While death is certainly more likely when meningitis isn’t treated early enough, several other serious complications become more likely the longer a case of meningitis goes untreated. Some of the most common potentially permanent complications associated with meningitis are:

• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Seizures/epilepsy
• Problems with memory or concentration
• Learning difficulties (particularly in children)
• Problems with coordination and balance
• Speech problems
• Arthritis
• Kidney damage
• Limb amputation due to sepsis (infection spreading to the bloodstream)

I’ve Recovered From Meningitis, But I’ve Been Told My Lingering Symptoms May Be Permanent. What Can I Do?

If you’re suffering from complications of a prior case of meningitis, you may have a long road of recovery ahead of you. Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, medications, pain relief, and medical devices may all be needed to help you lead the life you want. You may also be wondering, “Was any of this preventable?” Some people find it helpful to consult with an attorney once they know a little more about what happened and what their future holds. 

A skilled legal team can find the answers to these and other pressing questions:

• Did a doctor dismiss your initial symptoms?
• Did they follow the proper protocols for a suspected meningitis case?
• Did they run the right tests with the urgency that was required?
• Were the correct treatments administered in a timely manner?

If any part of your care was mismanaged, or if a medical professional acted negligently, you may be entitled to compensation to cover your past and future medical expenses, as well as pain and suffering.

Why Choose Ross Feller Casey?

If you’ve suffered from bacterial or fungal meningitis (or any other type) due to medical malpractice, the team at Ross Feller Casey may be able to help. We have highly skilled, Ivy League-trained doctors on staff, so we understand how difficult it can be to fully recover from meningitis.

Our lawyers have the experience needed to get results, and we have the record to prove it. With over $3 billion recovered for our personal injury clients, including over $1 billion in the past five years alone, and more than 50 verdicts and settlements exceeding $10 million, we have a proven track record of success.

We work on a contingency basis, so there’s no charge unless a financial recovery is made in your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation, and let us use our experience to help you.