Meningitis and meningococcal disease

Meningococcal vaccines work very well. They are the best way to protect against meningitis and sepsis. Vaccination helps keep children safe.

It is important to protect children because meningitis and sepsis can:  

• come on suddenly  
• progress very quickly  
• kill in hours, and  
• leave survivors with serious health problems or lifelong disabilities. These include damage to the brain or nerves, as well as deafness, blindness or epilepsy (fits).  

Meningococcal disease is most common in babies under one year old. This is why babies are offered the MenB vaccine. It becomes less common as children get older. However, there is also a smaller second peak in cases among teenagers aged 15 to 19 years.   

Young children’s immune systems are not yet fully developed to fight off infection. But meningococcal disease can happen at any age, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of the disease. 

Meningococcal disease

How do MenB bacteria cause serious illness?  

MenB bacteria can live in our noses or throats without causing any problems at all. The bacteria can pass from person to person through close contact. For example, people living in the same household can spread MenB bacteria to other people through coughing or sneezing.

In some people and under certain conditions, the bacteria can become dangerous. They can move from the throat into the blood and spread around the body. This can cause meningitis or sepsis, which are very serious illnesses.

Can meningococcal disease due to MenB bacteria be prevented?  

The MenB vaccine is designed to protect against most meningococcal disease due to MenB bacteria. Since the MenB vaccine was introduced in 2015, cases of meningococcal disease in young children fell by over 60% by the third year of the vaccination programme.

Meningitis

Meningitis signs and symptoms

Symptoms may appear in any order and some may not appear at all.

Babies and toddlers

• Fever, cold hands and feet
• Fretful, dislike being handled
• Rapid breathing or grunting
• Unusual cry, moaning
• Stiff neck, dislike bright lights
• Refusing food and vomiting
• Drowsy, floppy, unresponsive
• Pale, blotchy, skin. Spots or rash (use the glass test – see below)
• Tense bulging fontanelle (soft spot)
• Convulsions or seizures

Very young babies may not have fever. Their temperature could be normal or low.

Children

• Fever, cold hands and feet
• Drowsy, difficult to wake
• Severe muscle pain
• Severe headache
• Dislike bright lights
• Vomiting
• Confusion and irritability
• Pale, blotchy, skin. Spots or rash (use the glass test – see below)
• Stiff neck
• Convulsions or seizures

The meningitis glass test  

A typical meningitis rash does not fade when you press it. To check for it, press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin. Not everyone gets this rash. It usually starts as small spots but quickly becomes deep purple patches. 

• Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin.   
• Spots or a rash (or both) may fade at first.   
• Keep checking.   
• Fever with spots or a rash (or both) that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.   
• If your child is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately.   
• On dark skin, the spots or rash can be more difficult to see.  

What should I do if I suspect meningitis and sepsis?  

Remember – symptoms do not appear in order, and some may not appear at all. If you are in any doubt about the health of your child, get medical help immediately. If you suspect meningitis and sepsis go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. 

For more information, see Meningitis Now (external site) or call the Meningitis Now helpline on 0808 80 10 388. 

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the vaccines, or the diseases they protect against a number of information resources are available to help.

You can also call NHS 111 (external site) or your GP practice for advice if you have any questions.