Meningitis
1
Call 999 if you think someone has meningitis. It's an emergency.
2
Don't wait for a rash.Not everyone gets one.
3
Trust your instincts.If they're unwell and you think something is seriously wrong, get help straight away.
Recognising meningitis
- A high temperature, but cold hands and feet
- A severe headache that's getting worse
- A stiff neck, and not liking bright lights
- Being sick, confused or very sleepy
- Muscle or joint pain
- Seizures
- A rash that doesn't fade under a glass
In babies and young children, also look for
Refusing feeds, a high-pitched or unusual cry, a stiff or floppy body, or a bulging soft spot on the head.
The glass test
Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the rash. If you can still see the rash through the glass, call 999. On brown or black skin a rash can be harder to see, so check paler areas like the palms, the soles of the feet, the roof of the mouth and inside the eyelids.