Identification

Meningitis and septicaemia are life-threatening conditions.  They require urgent medical attention and immediate treatment with antibiotics.  It is important that anyone with a suspected case of meningitis gets help immediately, even if they do not present with all the signs and symptoms of this disease.

The main signs and symptoms for babies and toddlers and for children and adults are outlined below.  Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia may appear in any order and some may not appear at all.

Babies and toddlers

• High temperature or fever, possibly with cold hands and feet
• Vomiting or refusing feeds
• High-pitched cry
• Blank, staring expression
• Pale, blotchy complexion
• ‘Floppiness’ and dislike of being handled
• Lethargy or reluctance to waken
• Tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot on babies’ heads)
• Convulsions (fits or seizures).

Children and adults

• High temperature, fever and shivering, possibly with cold hands and feet
• Vomiting, sometimes diarrhoea
• Severe headache
• Neck stiffness (unable to bend neck forwards, cannot touch chin to chest)
• Joint or muscle pains
• Stomach cramps may accompany septicaemia
• Dislike of bright lights
• Drowsiness and confusion
• Fits.

See section on Symptoms for further details of signs and symptoms of meningitis.