5min read
Baby illnesses meningitis
It’s every parent’s nightmare – trying to work out if your little one is a bit off colour, over tired or desperately ill. Meningitis is a devastating disease which typically causes confusion because it’s hard to identify – especially in the early stages. Meningitis is the biggest killer of children aged under five in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, with babies especially vulnerable because of their weak immune systems. But many people mistakenly think their children are protected against all types of the disease and this can lead to parents missing the symptoms or delay seeking medical help.
The signs and symptoms
Meningitis is caused by the inflammation of the meninges, the lining around the brain and spinal cord. One of the symptoms people talk about is a rash, but this inflammatory response is more common with septicaemia, and you should never wait for it to appear. Some of the signs include:
- Fever and/or vomiting
- Severe headache
- Very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake
- Stiff neck
- Dislike of bright lights
- Confused/delirious
- Seizures
In toddlers and babies there are additional tell-tale signs like refusing to eat, a high pitched or moaning cry, a tense or bulging soft spot on the head - the fontanelle - not wanting to be held or touched, a stiff body with jerky movements, or floppy and unable to stand up.
There can be a number of causes of meningitis, but the two most common are viruses and bacteria. Viral meningitis is rarely life-threatening but bacterial meningitis is and can kill fast.
At any one time around ten per cent of the population carry these bacteria harmlessly in the back of their nose and throat. If diagnosed early and treated quickly, most people who contract the diseases will make a good and full recovery. But in the early stages they can be mistaken for other illnesses such as flu.
Time is of the essence and you know your child best, so if you think they, or anyone else close to you, is seriously ill with meningitis, trust your instincts and get medical help immediately from a GP or the nearest hospital A & E.
Further resources
If you would like further support and advice, call our helpline on 0808 800 2222 or email us at askus@familylives.org.uk. You can talk to us online via our live chat service or message us via WhatsApp on 07441 444125 to connect with experienced professional family support workers and highly-trained volunteers. You may find it helps to find out how other parents and carers have coped with this on our online forums. We also have a range of free self-guided online parenting courses that can help through the ages and stages of parenting.
Our online parenting information is written by experienced parenting professionals. Find out more about our content authors, how it is produced, reviewed and edited.
Other organisations that can help
Meningitis Now have a dedicated helpline and online advice on their website.
Find out more about meningitis from the NHS website.
Watch this video from St John's Ambulance about the