A Sudden (Usually High) Fever
It’s not easy to catch meningitis during the onset of symptoms, as it tends to be the same as that of a common cold or the flu. That said, there is one telltale sign of meningitis when paired with other symptoms, such as confusion or a splitting headache. A sudden high fever could mean meningitis, especially with the other symptoms. A high fever is already a cause for concern, so make sure you let your doctor know. That said, the fever might not be very high in some instances, making it less apparent what the issue is. With a chronic fever, drinking fluids and getting enough bed rest are the go-to solutions, but if the fever starts to get worse, even with best-practice methods, it’s a sign of a potential medical emergency.
Meningitis can be life-threatening, and untreated bacterial meningitis is fatal. It can get so bad that death can occur within days, so the best solution is to contact your doctor or head to the hospital. While some symptoms might be tricky, a high fever is the most obvious sign of an emergency.
