Meningitis can be either viral or bacterial. Bacterial is the more severe form of the disease. Bacterial meningitis is transferred through direct oral secretions, and may be transmitted through kissing or sharing eating utensils, for example. The incubation period is one to 10 days, although symptoms usually surface within four days of exposure. Symptoms of the illness are similar to flu symptoms and include high fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, discomfort when looking into bright lights, confusion, sleepiness and, in extreme cases, seizures.
Symptoms can develop over several hours or days.
The illness is treated with antibiotics. People who may have had the close contact required for transmission of the illness can be treated with prophylactic medication and should contact a physician immediately.