Meningitis

Last updated: 25 January 2012

In this article

• What is Meningitis
• What are the symptoms of Meningitis
• What are the treatments and remedies for Meningitis?
• The mum view on Meningitis?
• The expert view on Meningitis?
• The client view on Meningitis?

What is Meningitis

Bacterial Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can be deadly diseases. Although most people with bacterial meningitis survive, if not detected within hours, these diseases can be fatal, and they kill more pre-school age children than any other disease. This is why early diagnosis and treatment is vital.

Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord; meningococcal septicaemia is blood poisoning that can develop as a result of the disease. It can also occur on its own without meningitis and is even more dangerous in isolation.

Meningitis can be either viral or bacterial. The most common bacterial type is meningococcal meningitis. Complications most often arise from bacterial meningitis, and include hearing loss, damage to nerves and collections of fluid on or in the brain.

Viral meningitis is more common in the summertime and is usually less severe than bacterial meningitis. Most patients usually make a full recovery.

Meningococcal meningitis can be life-threatening and may cause complications in blood flow to the limbs which in the worst cases may result in amputation or removal of damaged tissue.

Vaccines offer excellent protection against some forms of meningitis and septicaemia, but they can't prevent all strains from occurring.

What are the symptoms of Meningitis?

Symptoms can differ in babies and older children. In a baby or toddler you may notice:

- a pin-prick rash that doesn't disappear when pressed with a tumbler
- a bulging or stretched fontanelle (soft spot)
- fever (temperature of 38°C or above)
- refusal to feed
- vomiting
- excessive drowsiness
- stiff body with jerky movements
- floppy limbs
- convulsions (fits)
- Unusual crying or a high-pitched, moaning cry
- unresponsiveness
- general irritability
- rapid or obstructed breathing
- a vacant, staring expression
- blotchy, pale or blue-tinged skin
- floppiness
- cold hands and feet
- bruise marks
- diarrhoea

In an older child, teenager or adult, look for:

- a pin-prick rash that doesn't disappear when pressed with a tumbler
- fever (temperature of 38°C or above)
- cold hands and feet
- vomiting
- sensitivity to light
- headache
- confusion
- stiff neck
- pale, blotchy skin
- excessive drowsiness.

Not everyone develops the tell-tale rash, and if it does appear, it usually comes after other symptoms. It's a sign of septicaemia, so it's vital you take your baby or child to the doctor immediately or call 999 if he shows any combination of the above symptoms, and you don't have to wait until a rash appears.

Diagnosis is made by blood tests and lumbar puncture, where a sample of spinal fluid is extracted for analysis.

What are the treatments and remedies of Meningitis?

Ultimately, treatment depends on the type of meningitis, but intravenous antibiotics will be given to the patient immediately, rather than waiting for test results, and will be continued if tests confirm the bacterial form.

Patients with severe symptoms may also be given:

- oxygen
- intravenous fluids (delivered through a vein)
- medication to help reduce swelling around the brain.

If the antibiotics are effective, most patients recover within a week, but unresponsive or seriously ill patients may take weeks or even months to recover.