Q: What is meningitis?
Meningitis is the swelling of the meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
It is a very dangerous disease which can kill in hours. Every day in the UK, nine people become ill with meningitis, six die every week and a further 15 recover with permanent after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and amputations.
Meningitis can be caused by bacteria (such as streptococcus, pneumococcus, or meningococcus) which usually live harmlessly in the mouth and throat, or viruses (such as herpes simplex). Bacterial meningitis is life-threatening, whereas viral meningitis is almost never life-threatening.
The germs can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can occur along with meningitis or separately.
Q: What are the symptoms?
Knowing the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can help to save your child's life. They can be difficult to recognise in the early stages because the first symptoms are similar to many mild childhood illnesses. The symptoms of meningitis (m) and septicaemia (s) can differ. They may occur separately or together and include:
- Fever and/or vomiting (m/s)
- Severe headache (m)
- Limb/joint/muscle pain (s)
- Cold hands and feet/shivering (s)
- Pale or mottled skin (s)
- Fast breathing/breathlessness (s)
- Rash (which does not fade if a glass tumbler is pushed against it) (m/s)
- Stiff neck (m)
- Dislike of bright lights (m)
- Very sleepy, vacant or difficult to wake (m/s)
- Confused/delirious (m/s)
- Seizures (fits) (m)
Other symptoms in babies and toddlers include:
- Refusing to eat/feed
- Irritable and not wanting to be held
- A stiff body with jerky movements, or floppy
- A tense or bulging soft spot on the head (fontanelle)
- A high pitched or moaning cry
Not all children will display all the symptoms and they can appear in any order, although the first are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell.
Q: What is the risk to my child?
Young children are most at risk of meningitis and septicaemia, with around 50 per cent of cases occurring in the under-fives. But the treatment for bacterial meningitis has improved greatly. Before antibiotics were developed, most people would die even with prompt treatment. Antibiotics brought the death rate down to around 10 per cent. Improved recognition and intensive care have improved the situation further.
Most children have a natural resistance to the bacteria, and vaccines now also give protection against some forms of the disease. However, there are a number of bacteria for which no effective vaccines have yet been developed. The best way to protect against meningitis is to ensure that your child's vaccinations are up to date.
The risk of infection spreading to other children is low, but if someone is thought to be particularly at risk of infection, such as a young child who has been in close contact with someone who has developed bacterial meningitis, then they may be given a dose of antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
Q: What should I do if I suspect meningitis?
You should take the above symptoms very seriously and contact your doctor for an emergency appointment, or call an ambulance. Trust your instincts and get urgent medical help.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Meningitis Research Foundation provides a freefone 24-hour helpline for anybody who has been affected by meningitis. Call 080 8800 3344 or go to www.meningitis.org.
For more information about vaccines, go to www.immunisation.nhs.uk.
Meningitis: A Guide for Families by J Simon Kroll, Andrew J Pollard, Parviz Habibi (Publishing Solutions Ltd).