[When should you suspect meningitis?].

Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening disease with a high mortality if left untreated. School-age children, adolescents and adults often present with typical symptoms such as fever, headache, neck stiffness and altered mental status, whereas infants show rather unspecific symptoms.The important task of the primary physician is to recognize the life-threatening condition in time and to refer the patient immediately to the next hospital.