Know the warning signs of meningitis

Publication Date:20/09/2007

Meningitis is a frightening disease that can be life-threatening in just a few hours. Knowing the danger signs, and acting quickly on them, could save a life. Meningitis is more common over the winter months so, as autumn begins, make sure you know the signs.

What is meningitis?

You get meningitis when a germ called meningococcus infects the fluid in your spinal cord and around your brain. If the germ gets into your blood, it can also cause blood poisoning, which is called septicaemia. Both diseases can cause serious damage to your brain and other organs.

Anyone can get meningitis, but babies under 12 months, toddlers, and young people aged 15 to 24 are most at risk. University students also have a higher risk, possibly because lots of young people live closely together in halls of residence. Most cases happen over the autumn and winter, as the weather gets colder.

There are now good vaccines against some types of the disease. Everyone under the age of 25 should be vaccinated against meningitis C. But there is no vaccine against the most common type, meningitis B.

Meningitis is a life-threatening disease which gets worse very quickly. That's why it is so important to get medical help if you, or someone you know, might have the disease.

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

If you have meningitis, you may have:

High temperature
Sleepiness
A rash
A headache
A stiff neck
Nausea
Vomiting
Pain looking at bright lights
Confusion
Seizures (fits).

If you have septicaemia you may have:

High temperature
Sleepiness
A rash
Cold hands and feet
Shivering
Very rapid breathing
Pale, blotchy skin
Painful joints and muscles.

People with meningitis sometimes get a particular kind of rash. It doesn't go away when you press it, like most rashes. So if you press a glass against it, you can see it through the glass. But not everyone with meningitis gets this kind of rash.

Babies and children under 2 don't always get the symptoms listed above. Instead they may:

Be slow, sleepy or irritable
Vomit, or feed poorly
Cry a lot (moaning or high-pitched crying)
Have a temperature, but look pale or blotchy
Have a bulging soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
Be stiff, jerky or have seizures (fits).

If you or your child has symptoms, get treatment straight away. Do not delay. Go to the nearest accident and emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance.

It can be hard to know whether someone has a less serious disease, like flu or a cold, or meningitis. Trust your instincts: if you or your child seems very unwell or is getting worse rapidly, get medical help straight away. There are about 3,000 cases of meningitis every year in the UK, and last year 230 people died of the disease.

What does this mean for me?

It's important to be aware of the symptoms, whether you are a parent, or a student off to university. Remember, anyone can get meningitis, at any age. If your child or someone you know is off to university this month, make sure they know the warning signs and what to do about them.

What should I do now?

Keep a note of the symptoms of meningitis so you can recognise them quickly. But remember not everyone will get all the symptoms of meningitis. Don't delay getting medical help because someone doesn't have all the symptoms. If you are a parent, make sure that your children are protected against meningitis C with the vaccine. Students heading off to university for their first year, who may not have had the vaccine as a child, should have it before they go. If you are not sure whether your children have been vaccinated, ask your GP surgery to check.

To find out more, see our information about meningococcal disease.

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This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.