Patient's question:
My colleague's child once had a cold with a headache for a while, and the medicine didn't help at all, so they went to the hospital. The doctor said it had turned into meningitis. During this time, my child has also started getting a cold and a headache. I'm very worried it might be meningitis. Is it meningitis if the child has a cold and a headache?Doctor's answer:
The early symptoms of pediatric encephalitis are very similar to those of a cold, including fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and dry heaves. Additionally, there may be abnormalities in mental state, often, loss of appetite, confusion, or recurrence of convulsions. Alternatively, there may be restlessness, excessive talking, irritability, neurosis, or abnormal behavior. If a child experiences headaches again, close and careful observation should be conducted for other symptoms. If the symptoms mentioned above recur, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for follow-up treatment.