Question about meningitis?

Question

Yesterday I started feeling pain in my neck, especially when I tried to touch my head to my chin.

This morning when I woke up it hurt worse so I went to the doctor here at my school and she started asking me if I had a bunch of other symptoms, none of which I had. She also said neck pain can be caused by meningitis, especially in college kids.

She told me that the hot water from the shower had relaxed my muscles and that's probably why it happened.

By the way, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary. I wasn't twisting my body in a weird way or anything. I was waashing my face and hte pain appeared out of no where.

I remember that one of the other symptoms was diarrhea, which I discovered I had later today.

I've been looking around online and almost none of the sites I've been to list diarrhea as a main symptom.

Also, one website said that who have had colds or the flu recently or have been around people like that are more likely to get meningitis.

My roommate has a bad cold right now.

And another said that people with chronic ear or nose infections are more likely to get it.

I've had a chronic ear infection problem since I was a baby.

So now I'm paranoid that I have meningitis, but my main question is if I did, how long would the diarrhea last?

I mean, if it was a one time thing and I don't have any more today or tomorrow, then should I not be worried?

Answer 1

You dont have meningitis.

The doctor was asking you about symptoms of meningitis because it IS common in young adults as they need to just make sure you are ok. If you had meningitis you'd probably be dead already tbh.

Meningitis will  usually come from an existing infection such as a cold, but it can come from ANY infection. Meningitis is just where pathogens get onto the meninges of the brain causing irritation. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungii, any sort of infection. It's important to be aware of the symptoms- cold/flu like symptoms followed by bad headache, drowsiness, vomiting, photophobia stiff neck etc.

Your neck pain and diarrhoea are probably completely unrelated and will settle down in a matter of days. Anything could have made you twinge your neck a bit, i suggest you take a few paracetamol for the pain and try to keep as mobile as possible. The diarrhoea is probably just a stomach bug.

Serious, if you have meningitis you know about it, you would be VERY unwell, VERY quickly.

Answer 2

You normally get other symptoms like photo-phobia- the light will hurt your eyes. A temperature is also common. if you are worried then ask for a second opinion.

there are different types of meningitis, bacterial and viral. slow on set or rapid onset. if you notice any other symptoms get yourself checked out again you can never be too careful.

you may have the head ache due to dehydration as a result of the diarrhea.

I hope you feel better soon.