Meningitis is a very serious illness that can develop very quickly and become life-threatening if not treated quickly. About half of meningitis cases occur in children under five years of age, but young people aged 15-24 years are also at higher risk than the general population.

What causes Meningitis and who can get it?

Meningitis happens when the lining of the brain (called the meninges) and spinal cord gets infected and swollen. This can be caused by a bug, a virus or by bacteria. How serious it is depends on the bug causing it. Viral meningitis in most cases is not too serious and does not normally have lasting effects. Bacterial meningitis is much more serious. It can lead to you being very ill, very quickly. Anyone can get meningitis, but babies, children and young people are most at risk.

What are the signs and symptoms of Meningitis?

In young children the common signs are a high temperature (although hands and feet may feel cold), not wanting to eat and feeling sick and sleepy. For older children and adults, the signs are the same but with a very bad headache and a stiff neck. Often people with meningitis find it difficult to look at bright lights. A skin rash sometimes appears too which can look like bruises. If you have meningitis the purple blotches won’t turn pale or fade when you press a glass over the top of them. If this is the case you need to call 999 straight away. 

When to ask for medical help

If you have some of the above symptoms, you need to do something quickly. Ask your parents to call your doctor or an ambulance and tell them you think you might have meningitis. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chance of a full recovery. Early symptoms of meningitis can be difficult to spot, so go back to your GP or local hospital if you are still worried.

How is it normally treated?

If you have meningitis you will usually have to stay in hospital and be given antibiotics. These will probably be given intravenously (into a vein). You may need to stay in intensive care for a while too.

Can it be prevented?

All children should have a number of routine childhood vaccines that protect against bacterial meningitis: Hib vaccine and Meningococcal C vaccine. These vaccines protect against the most common forms of bacterial meningitis that affect children. Recently a new vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (Prevenar) has been introduced into the routine immunization schedule and now every child is offered this.

Looking forward

The important thing is to be diagnosed quickly. This way you can start treatment quickly too. When they are treated quickly about nine out of ten people get better from meningitis with no lasting effects. Serious cases of meningitis have been known to cause long-term health problems such as hearing loss and sometimes epileptic fits.

For more help and information

Find out more about meningitis on the Meningitis Trust website.

Last reviewed by Great Ormond Street Hospital: 27 February 2007

Copyright © Great Ormond Street Hospital