Share
12th December 2024
11:29am GMT
Meningitis is a very serious illness and children under 5 are at especially high risk.
The peak risk is for babies at just five months of age.
Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. There are two main types; bacterial and viral.
According to the HSE, the germs that cause bacterial meningitis can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning), which is also a serious illness that can be life-threatening.
Fast treatment can save lives and prevent long-term disability, so knowing the symptoms is key to catching it early.
Babies and children with meningitis and septicaemia won't usually have every symptom, the HSE advises.
They can appear in any order and if your child has any of the following, you should key a close eye.
A high temperature
A temperature of 38°C or higher or cold hands and feet and is shivering.
Dislikes bright lights
Squints or covers their eyes when exposed to light.
Headache and neck stiffness
Has a very bad headache or a stiff neck
Pain or body stiffness
Has aches or pains - stomach, joint or muscle pain. Has a stiff body with jerking movements or a floppy lifeless body.
Tummy symptoms
Is vomiting or refusing to feed.
Confused, tired or irritable
Is very sleepy, lethargic, not responding to you or difficult to wake. Is irritable when you pick them up or has a high-pitched or moaning cry. Is confused or delirious.
Skin colour
Has pale or bluish skin.
Unusual breathing
Is breathing fast or breathless.
Soft spot
Has a tense or bulging soft spot on their head - the soft spot on their head is called the anterior fontanelle.
Seizures
Has a seizure.
Rash
A rash that doesn’t fade when you press a glass tumbler against it.
Explore more on these topics:
