Meningitis is a medical emergency. Trust your instincts and get medical help immediately if you are faced with these symptoms:

Babies and Toddlers – get medical help immediately if you see some or all of these symptoms.

• Fever combined with cold hands and feet
• Refusing food when normally hungry
• Vomiting
• Fretful, does not want to be picked up or held
• Pale, blotchy skin
• Blank, staring expression
• Drowsy, difficult to wake
• Stiff neck and arched back
• High pitched cry

Children and Adults – get medical help immediately if they have some or all of these symptoms.

• Vomiting
• Fever with cold hands and feet
• Headache, especially combined with stiff neck
• Joint stiffness and muscle pain
• Dislike bright lights, noise
• Drowsy, difficult to wake
• Confusion or delirium

Try this test if you see a rash
A rash may occur with one strain of meningitis that is often combined with blood poisoning. The rash does not fade with pressure. To test, press the side of a drinking glass against the red or purple blotches. If they do not fade, seek medical help immediately.
On darker skin the rash may not be obvious. Look on paler areas and under the eyelids. The rash does not always appear and may or may not be combined with rapid breathing, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.