Does meningitis cause headaches?

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

Updated on September 18, 2024

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Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, tuberculosis bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., which can all cause meningitis. Common symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, etc., thus patients with meningitis do experience headaches. Moreover, headache is one of the most common symptoms in patients with meningitis. Often, patients suffering from headaches will experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting, which is frequently projectile, and in many cases, the headache can be alleviated after vomiting.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

42sec

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Is meningitis serious?

Meningitis is a common infectious disease of the central nervous system. Patients with meningitis often experience symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and neck stiffness. As the disease progresses, they may also experience seizures, motor disorders, disturbed consciousness, coma, and other conditions, with severe cases posing a risk to life. Many patients can still have sequelae after recovery, such as speech impairments, hemiplegia, and decreased intelligence. Therefore, meningitis is a very serious disease, and patients should actively cooperate with doctors for treatment after becoming ill.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

40sec

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How to test for meningitis?

The main methods for meningitis examination are lumbar puncture and cerebrospinal fluid testing. Cerebrospinal fluid examination may show increased pressure, turbid appearance, and purulent changes, containing a large number of white blood cells and neutrophils. Routine blood tests may also show a white blood cell count significantly higher than normal, predominantly composed of immature neutrophils. Additionally, it is possible to check electrolytes and use auxiliary diagnostic tools such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRI to confirm the diagnosis, facilitating early detection and treatment.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 40sec

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Differences between Viral Meningitis and Tuberculous Meningitis

Virial meningitis and tuberculous meningitis sometimes require additional differentiation in clinical practice because their treatment plans are significantly different. Virial meningitis has a relatively abrupt onset and is caused by a viral infection, generally having a good prognosis. Patients with tuberculous meningitis usually exhibit symptoms of tuberculosis toxicity such as low fever, night sweats, and fatigue before the onset of the disease. Commonly, other forms of tuberculosis can be identified, such as pulmonary tuberculosis or intestinal tuberculosis. An important diagnostic tool for differentiation is the lumbar puncture. In viral meningitis, the lumbar puncture pressure is generally not particularly high, whereas in tuberculous meningitis, the lumbar puncture pressure is very high, reaching over 400 mm of water column. Additionally, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in tuberculous meningitis is yellowish, and its protein levels are significantly elevated, as are its white blood cell counts, typically ranging from 50 to 500 × 10^6/L. In tuberculous meningitis, the levels of glucose and chloride in the cerebrospinal fluid are significantly decreased, especially chloride, which is a prominent indicator for diagnosing tuberculous meningitis. In contrast, such clear changes are not observed in the lumbar puncture for viral meningitis. Another aspect to consider is the treatment response; if antiviral treatment is ineffective, the possibility of tuberculous meningitis should be considered.

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Written by Zhang Hui

Neurology

1min 8sec

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How to test for meningitis?

Meningitis is a very common disease in neurology, and the most common causes are infections, including viral infections, common bacterial infections, tuberculosis infections, and fungal infections. The main methods of examination for meningitis are as follows: First, physical examination. A physical examination can reveal neck stiffness in the patient, and positive meningeal irritation signs. These examinations are non-invasive and very safe. Second, a lumbar puncture can also be performed. A lumbar puncture can be used to observe whether the fluid pressure is high, and also to collect cerebrospinal fluid to examine its color, perform cytological and biochemical analyses, and culture the cerebrospinal fluid. This is very important to definitively determine the presence of meningitis and to identify the type of infectious agent involved. Additionally, enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can also be performed to see if there is significant enhancement of the meninges.

home-news-image

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

39sec

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Does meningitis cause headaches?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, tuberculosis bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc., which can all cause meningitis. Common symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, etc., thus patients with meningitis do experience headaches. Moreover, headache is one of the most common symptoms in patients with meningitis. Often, patients suffering from headaches will experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting, which is frequently projectile, and in many cases, the headache can be alleviated after vomiting.