Meningitis: Short-Term Problems

Table of Contents
• Topic Overview
• Credits

Topic Overview
Complications during illness with meningitis may include:

• Prolonged fever. Fever caused by bacterial meningitis usually goes away after 3 to 6 days
of treatment with antibiotics. Fever that continues after 6 days on antibiotics or that goes
away and returns may mean that the antibiotic is not killing the bacteria. On rare
occasions fever is caused by other conditions, including reactions to medicines used to
treat meningitis.
• Seizures. This complication can develop because of inflammation and swelling of the brain
and tissues (meninges) surrounding the brain. Sometimes controlling seizures is difficult.
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). This complication of bacterial
meningitis may develop 1 to 2 days after antibiotics have been started. SIADH causes
large amounts of fluid to build up in the body. If SIADH is not treated, coma and death
can occur.
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). This condition causes changes in the blood.
At first, the blood clots too quickly. Then it clots too slowly, causing bleeding within the
skin and tissues. DIC is life-threatening.
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is a serious condition that begins suddenly.
Fluid builds up in the lungs and causes breathing failure.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Current as of May 24, 2016

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