\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n \tRelated story \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t13 Symptoms of Meningitis You Need to Know If You\u2019re Parenting Teens\t\t<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n \t \n\t\u201cRegardless of the cause, these are all infections in and around your brain, and that\u2019s something to avoid if you can,\u201d Elizabeth Murray, DO, MBA<\/a>, pediatric emergency medicine doctor, tells SheKnows. <\/em>Babies and very young children are more vulnerable because their immune systems are still developing. Teens and young adults ages 16 to 23 are at a higher risk for meningococcal meningitis<\/a> specifically because they\u2019re more likely to be in close-quarters living situations where contagious germs spread like wildfire \u2014 think dorm rooms in college.<\/p>\n \n\tMeningitis symptoms can run the gamut, but in severe cases, it\u2019s often apparent that something is seriously wrong, Murray notes. Babies and young children may present with a high fever, irritability, vomiting or refusing to feed, or extreme lethargy. They might also have a red or purplish rash on their skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cThe fontanelle, or soft spot on the top of their head, may be bulging or feel higher than usual and full,\u201d Catherine Mary Healy, MD, pediatrician and member of American Academy of Pediatrics\u2019 (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases<\/a>, tells SheKnows<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tMeanwhile, teens and young adults with meningitis may develop a fever, severe headache, stiff neck, or confusion. All diagnoses are made with a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, which helps doctors identify what germ caused the infection and treat it accordingly.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tTo be clear: Meningitis is fairly rare, and most people who get it make a full recovery. \u201cSadly, even when we can stop the infection, sometimes damage is still done,\u201d Murray says. Per the Meningitis Foundation<\/a>, one in five people who fall ill with bacterial meningitis are left with permanent side effects. They can vary widely depending on the germ that caused the illness and severity.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tIn general, the longer treatment for meningitis is delayed, the higher a patient\u2019s risk of sustaining serious damage to their organs, muscles, or nervous system<\/a>. Bacterial meningitis is typically treated with weeks of antibiotics, Murray explains. Viral cases sometimes resolve on their own, but often, meningitis requires hospitalization.<\/p>\n \n\tViewers who tuned in for Season 2 of The Pitt<\/em>, HBO Max\u2019s hit medical drama, may recall that (spoiler alert!) Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi experiences seizures as an adult<\/a> because she had viral meningitis in childhood. That\u2019s just one example of a possible complication.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cLong-term effects may include deafness, seizures, and neurodevelopmental delays,\u201d Healy says. \u201cFor meningitis caused by meningococcal disease with a severe rash, there may also be skin scarring or the need for amputation of limbs.\u201d Lingering vision or memory issues can arise, too.<\/p>\n \n\tMurray\u2019s advice for parents who are concerned about meningitis? \u201cVaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate.\u201d It\u2019s the best tool available to prevent this condition, and the host of potentially disabling side effects it can cause.<\/p>\n \n\tThe AAP universally recommends a number of vaccine series<\/a> \u2014 some for babies, and others for preteens, teens, and young adults<\/a> \u2014 for protection against different bacteria and viruses that can cause meningitis. They include the pneumococcal, haemophilus influenzae type B (HIB), and meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccines.<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-sheknows-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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