Meningitis in older infants and adolescents

Presents in the more classic manner

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

– Kernig’s (inability to extend knee if hip is flexed, image A) and Brudzinski’s (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

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