We would like to thank the Meningitis Research Foundation for providing the photographs for this section.

Meningitis is a word that strikes fear into most people. It often generates considerable anxiety, even though the disease is relatively uncommon, and the chance of a second case occurring in the same surroundings is very small.

Meningitis is usually bacterial or viral. Whilst viral meningitis can be very nasty it is almost never life-threatening and most people will soon make a full recovery. Bacterial meningitis is more serious and most cases are caused by meningococcal bacteria. These bacteria also cause septicaemia, the blood poisoning and far more life-threatening form of the disease.

Meningococcal bacteria are common - about 10% of the population carry them in the back of the nose or throat, although carriage is less common in young children than in adults. The bacteria are passed on by prolonged or intimate contact. They are very fragile and do not survive outside the human body, so they are not easily transmitted. They cannot be caught from the air, from clothes or from handling toys, cutlery or furniture.

Whilst the introduction of a new vaccine in November 1999 to protect against Group C meningococcal disease has saved lives, there are still many other forms of the disease that are not vaccine preventable. In the absence of effective vaccines against all forms of meningitis and septicaemia, knowing the signs and symptoms of these diseases remains crucial:

Septicaemia

(This form of the illness often starts with non-specific flu like symptoms)

• Rash
• Fever/Vomiting
• Cold hands and feet
• Limb/joint/muscle pain
• abnormal colour (pale/mottled)
• Rapid breathing
• Abdominal pain (sometimes with diarrhoea)
• Drowsiness/impaired consciousness

Meningitis

• Severe headache
• Stiff neck*
• Dislike of bright lights*
• Fever/vomiting
• Drowsiness/impaired consciousness
• Rash

(*unusual in young children)

Babies may also suffer from tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue; refusing to feed; be irritable when picked up, with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.

Symptoms can appear in any order, not everyone gets all the symptoms and septicaemia can occur without meningitis.

The Tumbler Test

If a glass tumbler is pressed firmly against a septicaemic rash, the rash will not fade. It will remain visible through the glass.

Watch out for tiny red or brown pin prick mark, which can change into larger red or purple blotches or blood blisters. If this happens seek medical advice.

On Dark Skin

The rash can be harder to see on dark skin, so check for spots especially on paler areas like palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the stomach, inside the eyelids and on the roof of the mouth.

Not everyone gets a rash, so also look out for rapid deterioration. Someone with meningitis and septicaemia will become extremely ill very quickly.

Remember…trust your instincts. Someone who has meningitis and septicaemia needs medical help immediately.

Meningitis Research Foundation

Meningitis Research Foundation's vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia.

The charity funds research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. The Foundation promotes education and awareness to reduce death and disability, and gives support to people affected.

The Foundation's Charitable Objects

• To promote research into the causes and treatment of all forms of meningitis and associated infections
• To promote the dissemination of knowledge gained by such research
• To advance the education of the public in the causes, treatment and prevention of meningitis and associated infections
• To help relieve the distress to individuals and families caused by death and damage through meningitis and associated infections

The 24 hour helpline (Freefone in UK, LoCall rates in the Republic of Ireland), run by trained helpline staff and nurses, is widely quoted by the media in articles about meningitis and recommended by public health doctors, giving concerned members of the public access to information and support whatever the time of the day or night. The helpline takes thousands of calls each year from the public and health and education professionals dealing with the diseases.

The Foundation also has a wide range of literature available to callers to the helpline including a mini-pack of symptom information that is freely available.

Meningitis Research Foundation
Midland Way
Thornbury
Bristol
BS35 2BS

Tel: 01454 281811 Fax: 01454 281094

www.meningitis.org

Department of Health

The Department of Health have just updated and rewritten their report on meningitis.

If you want to read a more detailed report on these illnesses please use the link to read their report. The report can be found at: Chief Medical Officer report

Latest Research - 11 January 2006

Research identifies early warning signs of meningitis and septicaemia

Meningococcal disease – meningitis and septicaemia – is the most common infectious cause of death in children in the UK. Early diagnosis is crucial as the disease can progress so fast that within a few short hours of the initial symptoms appearing a previously healthy child could be in intensive care fighting for their life.

Meningitis Research Foundation funded a fifteen-month study of children who had had the disease to identify whether there were key early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, which if recognised at an early stage, could save lives. Red flag early symptoms include cold hands and feet, limb pain and abnormal colour (pallor or mottling) whilst classic textbook symptoms of rash, neck stiffness and impaired consciousness typically occur later.

The study showed that half the children with meningococcal disease were initially sent home by their GP. Since most children who die from meningococcal disease die within 24 hours, it's important that if a child is sent home without a diagnosis, parents are encouraged to seek help right away if their child gets worse.

Meningitis Research Foundation Chief Executive Denise Vaughan commented: "This important research funded by the Foundation has not only identified the early symptoms of septicaemia but the need for doctors to systematically look for those symptoms in sick children. We hope this will change the model of how meningitis and septicaemia are looked for in primary care and save lives."

This research is the largest study of its kind. It is also totally unique in looking at symptoms in the community. It underlines the importance of recognising early signs of septicaemia which are frequently not accompanied by the classic meningitis symptoms.