Meningitis in older infants and adolescents

Presents in the more classic manner

Signs and Symptoms- Lethargy, headache, photophobia, neck stiffness, fever, vomiting,

– Kernigs (inability to extend knee if hip is flexed, image A) and Brudzinskis (Bending head forward results in flexion movements of legs, image B) signs may be positive

Causative organisms

  • Haemophilus influenzae
  • Neisseria meningitidis
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae

Treatment- Refer to local protocol, but usually

– 3rd Generation Cephalosporin (e.g. Cefotaxime 50mg/kg