Fever

• Meningitis may cause a high fever in children. A fever is typically one of the first noticeable symptoms of meningitis before the more serious symptoms develop.
  
  

Headache and Sensitivity to Light

• Children with meningitis may complain of a very severe headache that does not go away. Their eyes may also be more sensitive to light than normal.
  
  

Stiff Neck

• A stiff neck is one of the classic symptoms of meningitis and should be taken very seriously. This symptom is most common in older children. A child with meningitis may feel a great deal of pain in his neck when he drops his head towards his chest.
  
  

Rash

• Meningitis may also cause a rash on the body and cause frequent itching in children.
  
  

In Infants

• Infants with meningitis have different symptoms than older children. Their symptoms are more likely to include lethargy, unresponsiveness, a rigid neck or jaundice.