{"id":9088,"date":"2019-08-16T14:25:01","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T14:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9088"},"modified":"2021-06-21T13:49:17","modified_gmt":"2021-06-21T13:49:17","slug":"15-general-signs-of-spinal-meningitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-general-signs-of-spinal-meningitis\/","title":{"rendered":"15 General Signs of Spinal Meningitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Meningitis is a condition \u2014 often viral \u2014 that inflames the membranes around your spine and brain. These membranes are known as meninges, hence the term meningitis meaning inflammation of the meninges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spinal meningitis is a particularly serious variant that takes place in the spinal cord. While severe symptoms can easily be used to diagnose meningitis, there are some general signs that may be less obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing about these signs could be the key to getting early treatment. After all, when the more severe symptoms manifest you\u2019re likely in a later stage of the viral infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to spinal meningitis, much like with other viral infections, you should always try to nip the issue at the bud with early antiviral treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The faster you take care of the infection, the less chance you\u2019ll have of developing further complications. Here are eight signs that you might have spinal meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Drowsiness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first sign that you should be on the lookout for is drowsiness<\/a>. While it\u2019s true that some people are naturally drowsy and tend to sleep long, drowsiness may be cause for concern if it\u2019s out of place. If you\u2019re a person who normally has a ton of energy and wakes up early but have recently noticed yourself snoozing the alarm without a clear explanation then this could be a sign that you have spinal meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, most meningitis cases are viral. Whenever your body comes into contact with a virus, it will trigger various immune responses which could leave you drowsy while your body attempts to fight the infection. You shouldn\u2019t panic if you\u2019re drowsy. After all, it could simply be that you\u2019re overworking yourself, but if the drowsiness isn\u2019t aligned with your personality and\/or is accompanied by other signs on this list then it would be wise to head to your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a similar vein, you should also be on the lookout for fatigue<\/a>. Much like with drowsiness, you shouldn\u2019t be too worried if you\u2019re generally fatigued or if you\u2019ve been working extra hard as of late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, if your level of activity has remained relatively constant and you\u2019re generally a high-energy person that has been struck with a sudden wave of fatigue then it may be cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to think back and see if there\u2019s another explanation for your sudden fatigue. If there isn\u2019t, and if you notice other signs on this list, then you should go to your doctor and explain why you think you may have spinal meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your doctor will likely proceed to run a few tests so that they can get to the bottom of the issue and determine whether meningitis or other conditions are present in your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Headache<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headache <\/a>is another symptom that most people neglect. The general public sees headaches as a common nuisance, but it\u2019s important to realize that there\u2019s often a cause for headaches. While stress is certainly a common one, it isn\u2019t always the culprit. There are other things that could cause headaches such as meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as meningitis inflames the membranes around your brain and spinal cord, it\u2019s easy to see how that inflammation could manifest as headaches. Sudden and severe headaches are referred to as thunderclap headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These types of headaches could result from a subarachnoid hemorrhage \u2014 which is a bleed between the leptomeninges of your brain. Whether you have a subarachnoid hemorrhage or spinal meningitis, you should go see your doctor immediately so that you can treat the issue at hand before your condition worsens. Dissolving bleeds in your brain as quickly as possible is paramount to retaining motor function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Fever<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another indicator that you might have viral meningitis is a fever. Fevers are your body\u2019s natural response to an infection. While you may just have influenza<\/a>, you should always take note of your fevers so that you can provide all the factors to your doctor. If you had influenza the previous month but have a fever again then the cause could be something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most cases of meningitis are viral, and any viral infection, especially one around your brain, will most definitely cause a fever. You should be even more concerned if the fever lingers for more than three days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For your peace of mind, heading to your physician or calling them to come over to your house for a checkup would be wise. If they do end up detecting a problem then at least you\u2019ll have the opportunity to treat it early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Weight loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As your body attempts to fight the meningitis infection, it will be working extra hard and burning a lot of calories. That being the case, you\u2019ll likely notice rapid weight loss. While weight loss<\/a> is usually a good thing, especially if you\u2019re overweight, unexplained weight loss can indicate a problem in your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s even a symptom for many types of cancers. If you notice rapid weight loss without any changes to your diet or the level of exercise that you get on a weekly basis then you should go to your doctor to identify the root cause. Meningitis and cancer are just a couple of things that can cause unexplained and rapid weight loss. It\u2019s worth noting that normal weight loss brought on by dietary or lifestyle changes are definitely a good thing and not cause for concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Sweating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This sign ties into the previous one. In addition to burning calories, your immune system will also cause a lot of sweating <\/a>in your body as it fights the meningitis infection. A lot of sweat is produced in an effort to cool your body down following the fever. As you sweat, more fat will be burned, as if you\u2019re exercising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will further increase the speed at which you\u2019re losing weight. If you find yourself sweating without exerting yourself, such as while in bed, then it would be wise to call your doctor so that you can provide the other symptoms and try to identify the cause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, sweating during exercise or other forms of physical exertion is entirely normal.and merely a form of climate control that your body employs to keep you cool, thus you shouldn\u2019t worry about normal sweating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Loss of appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of meningitis that could lead to you shedding pounds is a loss of appetite<\/a>. When you contract a viral infection \u2014 like the ones that cause meningitis \u2014 your body will be focused on fighting it before the situation gets worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being the case, it will likely forget about other bodily functions such as appetite generation. This is why you don\u2019t feel like eating whenever you get sick. If you notice a loss of appetite in conjunction with the other signs on this list then it may be caused by spinal meningitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no need to panic though as there are other, less severe causes for a loss of appetite. You should also take note of your food portions. If you have large meals then an inability to finish everything on your plate doesn\u2019t qualify as a loss of appetite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Lethargy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final sign of spinal meningitis that we\u2019re going to cover in this list is lethargy<\/a>. The term lethargy is described as a loss of energy and enthusiasm. While lethargy is often referred to in the context of physical weakness, it\u2019s worth noting that it also applies to your psychological energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if your body is physically able to accomplish tasks, you could still be categorized as lethargic if your mind is too tired to function efficiently. Spinal meningitis is often caused by a viral infection. While your immune system fights that infection, your mind will be too taxed to perform other tasks efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why spinal meningitis can lead to lethargy in otherwise energetic people. It\u2019s important to distinguish lethargy from fatigue, as the latter refers primarily to physical weakness while the former can be used to both physical and psychological weakness. If you feel lethargic and experience other signs on this list, give your doctor a call.
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