Meningitis

A number of early warning signs can often occur several hours before the other symptoms of meningitis, so they can serve as an important warning sign.

These early warning signs occur in cases of meningitis that are caused by the bacteria neisseria meningitis, when the bacteria can also infect the blood, leading to symptoms of septicaemia and septic shock. (The combination of meningitis and septicaemia is known as meningococcal disease).

Be alert for the symptoms of fever and any of the following symptoms:

• the child complains of severe pain in their legs or hands,
• their hands and feet are unusually cold, and/or
• their skin becomes pale and their lips may appear blue.

The presence of fever and any other of the above symptoms should be taken extremely seriously. Phone 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bacterial meningitis

The symptoms of bacterial meningitis usually begin abruptly and rapidly worsen. If you suspect a case of bacterial meningitis phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Symptoms include:

• a severe headache,
• fever,
• vomiting,
• drowsiness,
• confusion,
• seizures or fits,
• cannot tolerate bright lights (photophobia) - this is less common in young children, and
• a stiff neck - this is also less common in young children.

Often in cases of meningitis, a blotchy red rash can appear on the skin. Unlike most other rashes, this rash will not fade or change colour when you place a glass against it.

However, the rash does not occur in all cases so you should not assume that an absence of a rash means that a diagnosis of meningitis can be ruled out.

Symptoms of bacterial meningitis can appear differently in babies and young children. Possible symptoms include:

• becoming floppy and unresponsive or stiff with jerky movements,
• becoming irritable and dislike being held,
• unusual crying,
• vomiting and refusing feeds,
• skin becomes pale and blotchy, and
• loss of appetite
• staring expression,
• very sleepy with a reluctance to wake up,

Some babies will develop a swelling in the soft part of their head.

Viral meningitis

Most people with viral meningitis will have mild flu-symptoms of headaches, fever, chills and muscle or joint pain.

More severe cases of viral meningitis will share many of the same symptoms of bacterial meningitis. The most commonly reported symptoms in severe viral meningitis are:

• fever,
• headache,
• photophobia,
• nausea, and
• vomiting.

How do you tell the difference between viral and bacterial meningitis?

You can only tell the difference by carrying out clinical tests; not by symptoms alone. Therefore, you should always treat any case of suspected meningitis as a medical emergency.