Which of the following is a common symptom of meningitis?

High fever is a common symptom of meningitis because this condition involves inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, often due to an infection. When the body detects the infection, it triggers an immune response that can result in an increase in body temperature, leading to fever. Meningitis often presents with a sudden onset of high fever alongside other symptoms such as headaches, neck stiffness, and sensitivity to light. This fever is a critical sign that indicates the body is fighting off an infection, making it a hallmark symptom of meningitis.

While symptoms like seizures and listlessness can occur in certain cases of meningitis, they are not as universally recognized or indicative of the condition as fever. Shakes may be related to other medical conditions but are not a defining feature of meningitis. Therefore, high fever is the strong indicator that often points to this serious medical condition.