What you need to know about Meningitis

Health officials are responding to a meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are tracing contacts and providing preventative antibiotics to those at risk. For the latest information, go to UKHSA’s outbreak updates on GOV.UK.

The overall risk of Meningitis B (MenB) to people outside the Kent area remains low. It is an uncommon but serious illness.

A targeted MenB vaccination programme is also being rolled out for the most vulnerable, as efforts continue to contain the spread.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Meningitis

Early symptoms – such as vomiting, fever, aches, muscle pain, cold hands and feet and headaches – can look similar to common illnesses like colds or flu. But someone with meningitis or septicaemia will usually become seriously ill in a matter of hours. That’s why it’s crucial to keep checking on anyone who is unwell.

Symptoms can appear in any order, and some may not happen at all. For meningitis, common signs and symptoms include:

  • fever
  • a very bad headache (this alone is not a reason to get medical help)
  • vomiting
  • stiff neck
  • dislike of bright lights
  • rash
  • confusion, delirium
  • severe sleepiness, losing consciousness
  • fits

How do you recognise sepsis?

It’s important to be aware of how to recognise sepsis (septicaemia or blood poisoning) as well as meningitis. The most important signs to look out for are:

  • fever and shivering
  • severe pains and aches in limbs and joints
  • vomiting
  • very cold hands and feet
  • pale or blotchy skin
  • rapid breathing
  • diarrhoea and stomach cramps
  • red or purple ‘bruised’ or blotchy rash on skin that does not fade under pressure – do the glass test. On dark skin, check inside the eyelids or roof of the mouth where the spots may be more visible
  • difficulty walking or standing
  • severe sleepiness, losing consciousness

Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly.

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.

The NHS (Meningitis – Symptoms – NHS) and meningitis charities have very good information on signs and symptoms (see Meningitis – Symptoms, Causes and Treatments | Meningitis Now or Symptoms of Meningitis | Meningitis Research Foundation).