Meningitis
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia (blood posoning) are not always easy to recognise at first.In the early stages, signs and symptoms can be similar to many other more common illnesses, for example flu. Early symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting and general tiredness.
The common signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia are shown in the pictures below. Others can include rapid breathing, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and a rash that does not fade under pressure. In babies, check if the soft spot (fontanelle) on the top of the head is tense or bulging.
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning) are serious diseases that can affect anyone at any time. Although they are uncommon, they can strike unexpectedly, especially in young children. The speed at which people become ill, and the dramatic and sometimes devastating course of events, make meningitis and septicaemia alarming diseases.
The MENINGITIS TRUST web-site tackles the issues of infectious disease, vaccination, treatments and after-effects relating to meningitis and septicaemia. It has been designed for children to use with teachers in the classroom but also to increase knowledge about the disease amongst teachers and parents.
 |