What you may notice
Symptoms can overlap with other conditions and vary between people.
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion or light sensitivity
Understanding care
Clinical care may include urgent hospital assessment to establish the cause and provide time-sensitive care. A qualified clinician decides which investigations and options fit the individual situation.
When to seek help
Possible meningitis needs urgent medical assessment. Fever with severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or a very unwell infant is an emergency; do not wait for a rash.
For severe breathing difficulty, collapse, suspected stroke, or another emergency, call local emergency services immediately. In India, call 112.
Read the medical sources
These sources support the educational article and offer more detail.
Prepared from the linked sources. This summary has not had an independent clinician review. A qualified clinician can assess symptoms and explain which information applies to you.
