Meningitis: Know the symptoms

The 'tumbler test' is one way to test for meningitis rash Credit: Prof P Brandztaeg/Meningitis Research Foundation

It is meningitis awareness week and the Meningitis Research Foundation has lots of information about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia.

People who are faced with meningitis and septicaemia have to act fast to save a life - a race against time.

Meningitis and septicaemia can be hard to recognise at first. Symptoms can appear in any order, but the first symptoms are usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell, just like many mild illnesses

Meningitis symptoms:

  • Fever/vomiting

  • Severe headache

  • Stiff neck

  • Dislike of bright lights

  • Very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake

  • Confused/delirious

  • Rash (which remains when a tumbler/glass is pressed against it)

  • Seizures

Septicaemia symptoms:

  • Fever/vomiting

  • Limb/join/muscle pain

  • Cold hands and feet/shivering

  • Pale or mottled skin

  • Breathing fast/breathlessness

  • Rash

  • Very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake

  • Confused/delirious

Symptoms of septicaemia Credit: Meningitis Research Foundation.

For more information on the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, head to the website for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Click here to read Gina Weston's warning about the importance of knowing the symptoms of meningitis. She lost two sons to the disease.