the distinctive symptoms of meningitis include
Symptoms of Meningitis. The symptoms of meningitis can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Common symptoms in people over the age of 2 include high fever, headache, and stiff neck. Signs of meningitis may also include distinctive rashes in some forms of the disease. More severe symptoms include nausea, vomiting, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of meningitis may be absent or difficult to detect.