Meningitis, Meningitus, Menigitis Symptoms, Meningitis Rash, Meningitis Help

Meningitis is a life threatening infection with a high mortality rate if left untreated or if treatment is delayed. Meningitis can affect anyone, regardless of age or race. It strikes quickly and can kill within four hours making it essential that you know the symptoms as it can easily become a matter of life and death.

Meningitis symptoms can vary in each case. However classic symptoms are a severe headache which can result in a dislike of bright lights (photophobia), a stiff neck, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Other symptoms that may arise are confusion, inability to support own body weight, aching limbs – in particular leg pain, difficulty in breathing, a change in skin colour and also a blue tinge to the lips. The meningitis rash is the most well known symptom with the illness, this starts like pin pricks and can quickly change to purple bruising. This rash will not disappear or change when a glass is placed against it. The meningitis rash does not appear in all cases so if you have cause for concern but do not see a rash then do not wait for it to appear, seek medical help.

There are two main types of menigitis; firstly there is viral menigitis, which most people make a full recovery from and secondly bacterial meningitus. Bacterial meningitus will require urgent medical treatment as it can strike quickly and can kill within hours. There are three main strands of bacterial meningitus, A, B and C. There is already a vaccine for meningitis C which is now given to babies at 3,4 and 12 months of age and meningitis A is very rare in the UK. We are currently focussed on researching and trying to find a vaccine for meningitis B.

Meningitis UK provides meningitis help and information. We are committed to finding a vaccine for meningitis and focus on prevention rather than cure. If you think that someone you know is suffering from meningitis, help is available. Seek urgent medical attention from your GP or local hospital.

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