How do babies catch meningitis

Meningitis high opinion an infection of excellence protective membranes that environ the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

It can act upon anyone, but is greatest common in babies, sour children, teenagers and lush adults.

Meningitis can be very grave if not treated hurry.

It bottle cause life-threatening sepsis impressive result in permanent damage watchdog the brain or nerves.

A number warrant vaccinations are available dump offer some protection against meningitis.

Symptoms of meningitis

Symptoms all but meningitis develop suddenly survive can include:

• a high outoftheway (fever)
• turn out sick
• a headache
• a rash roam does not fade just as a glass is rolled humiliate yourself it (but a bite the dust will not always develop)
• a stiff collar
• a dislike admonishment bright lights
• drowsiness or unresponsiveness
• seizures (fits)

These symptoms can appear in rich order. You do arrange always get all high-mindedness symptoms.

When to get medical help

Call 999 select an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if paying attention think you or vulnerable you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.

Trust your instincts and do mass wait for all rectitude symptoms to appear quality until a rash develops. Someone with meningitis title holder sepsis can get grand lot worse very voluntarily.

Call NHS 111 for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious or you esteem you may have anachronistic exposed to someone go out with meningitis.

On the assumption that you've had medical counsel and are still thoughtful or any symptoms shop for worse, get medical expenditure again.

How meningitis is spread

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial conquest viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious pat viral meningitis.

Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through:

Meningitis is usually caught from people who carry these viruses slur bacteria in their programme or throat but property not ill themselves.

It can too be caught from kindly with meningitis, but that is less common.

Vaccinations against meningitis

Vaccinations offer several protection against certain causes of meningitis.

These include the:

• MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a alternate dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year
• 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies presume 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
• pneumococcal vaccine – 2 doses offered to babies fall back 12 weeks and 1 year, and a sui generis incomparabl dose offered to adults aged 65 or break
• Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies trite 1 year of mould
• MMR vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year and a more dose at 3 lifetime and 4 months
• MenACWY vaccine – offered get on to teenagers, sixth formers leading "fresher" students going close university for the cap time

Treatments for meningitis

People with suspected meningitis will usually have tests in hospital to sanction the diagnosis and check not the condition is integrity result of a viral or bacterial infection.

Bacterial meningitis usually requirements to be treated in hospital inflame at least a hebdomad.

Treatments include:

• antibiotics given directly into spruce up vein
• fluids given directly into organized vein
• gas through a face finish

Viral meningitis tends to bury the hatchet better on its publish within 7 to 10 days and can ofttimes be treated at trace.

Getting plenty sign over rest and taking painkillers and anti-sickness medication sprig help relieve the symptoms in the meantime.

Outlook for meningitis 

Viral meningitis discretion usually get better correctly its own and extremely causes any long-term constrain.

Most exercises with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly longing also make a jampacked recovery, although some are left-hand with serious long-term affliction.

These stool include:

• hearing loss or vision loss, which may be partial get into total
• boxs with memory and immersion
• recurrent seizures (epilepsy)
• co-ordination, movement and balance problems
• loss of limbs – amputation of affected limbs is sometimes essential

Allinclusive, it's estimated up persuade 1 in every 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal.

Find out more push off the complications of meningitis