• Breastfeeding
• Chickenpox
• Coughs
• Diarrhoea
• Ear Ache
• Fever
• Fifth Disease
• Measles
• Meningitis
• Mumps
• Rash
• Roseola
• Rubella
• Sore Throat
• Sticky Eyes
• Vomiting

The Baby Directory Guide to Children's Health

information supplied in conjunction with The Meningitis Trust

What are meningitis and septicaemia?

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream and multiplying uncontrollably.

How many types of meningitis are there?

There are two main types of meningitis: viral and bacterial. Viral meningitis is rarely life threatening, but it can make people very weak. Bacterial meningitis is more serious and needs urgent medical treatment.

Meningococcal disease is the main cause of most cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia - the blood poisoning and more dangerous form of the disease. The current vaccine only prevents group C disease, which accounts for about 40% of cases in the UK.

What are the signs and symptoms?

In adults and older children:

High temperature, fever, vomiting, sometimes diarrhoea, severe headache, neck stiffness (unable to touch the chin to the chest), dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, joint or muscle pains (sometimes stomach cramps with septicaemia), fitting, the patient may be confused or disoriented.   Symptoms can progress rapidly, so that people become ill over a few hours.

Not all symptoms may be present.

Both adults and babies may have a rash (see below)

In babies and infants:

• fever with hands and feet feeling cold
• refusing feeds or vomiting
• high pitched moaning cry or vomiting
• dislike of being handled, fretful
• neck retraction with arching of back
• blank and staring expression
• difficult to wake, lethargic
• pale blotchy complexion

Septicaemic rash

Some bacteria which cause meningitis can often cause septicaemia (blood poisoning). Septicaemia is particularly associated with the meningococcal bacteria. With meningococcal septicaemia a rash appears on the skin which may start anywhere on the body as a cluster of tiny spots, which look like pin-pricks in the skin. If untreated, these blood spots will join to give the appearance of fresh bruises. The rash is not always present. In dark skinned people, it may only be visible around the eye on the inside of the eyelids.

The ‘glass test’ can be used to see if a rash might be septicaemia. If you press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly onto the spots or bruises, they will not fade.Other rashes usually DO fade when pressed. N.B. In a small number of cases, the rash may fade at first, but may later change into one that does not.

The rash should be taken very seriously - a doctor should be called immediately,or if any delay is likely, go straight to your local hospital emergency department.Do not wait for the rash. It may be the last symptom to appear,and in cases of meningitis without septicaemia may not appear at all.

What should you do?

• If someone you know is ill and you suspect meningitis/meningococcal septicaemiacontact a doctor immediately.
• Describe the symptoms carefully, mention that you think it might be meningitis
  or meningococcal septicaemia.
• If a doctor is not available go straight to the nearest Accident and Emergency Department and insist on seeing someone.
• If it is meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia, early treatment with antibiotics is vital.
• MENINGITIS AND MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA NEED URGENT ATTENTION!

Viral meningitis is much more common and is rarely life threatening,
but it can make people very weak. It is impossible to quote figures for viral meningitis because many mild cases may not even be reported by the sufferer. Viral meningitis does not need treatment with antibiotics.

Who is at risk?

People of any age can carry the bacteria for days, weeks or months without becoming ill and carrying the bacteria can help to make you more immune to meningitis. Occasionally, they overcome the body’s defences and cause meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.

Vaccines

A new vaccine for group C meningococcal disease became available in Autumn 1999. It will give long-term protection against this strain and will be given as part of the
Childhood Immunisation Programme.

There is no vaccine against meningococcus group B, which is still the most common group causing meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia.

For more detailed information: The Meningitis Trust