You may have seen the news regarding the recent outbreak of the invasive strain of Meningitis B in Kent.
Currently 3 schools and a university have been affected, sadly 2 young people have died and 11 are in hospital.
If you suspect meningitis or sepsis seek medical help urgently.
Local students are currently being prescribed antibiotics to take prophylactically to prevent the infection. It is hoped that this will curb the spread and avoid other areas becoming infected as students go home for the holidays. There is a meningitis B vaccine, but it has only been available since 2015 and is only routinely given on the NHS to babies. Otherwise it is only available on a private prescription, it requires 2 doses and will take a few weeks to become effective.
Meningitis is swelling of the meninges (the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord). The inflammation is usually the result of an infection.
Spotting early warning signs is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Meningitis: Everything You Need to Know
Meningitis can develop very rapidly, making early recognition absolutely crucial. Bacterial meningitis is more serious than viral meningitis and can result in life-changing injuries and death.
Causes
Meningitis can be caused by viruses or bacteria. It is often caused by a bacteria which can live harmlessly in people’s throats but can cause serious illness if it gets into the blood or spinal fluid. There are different types of this bacteria and the most common is known as type B – what is often referred to as meningitis B, or MenB. According to Meningitis Now, MenB is one of the most common causes of meningitis in the UK.
While Viral meningitis can be very unpleasant, it is rarely life threatening and most people eventually make a full recovery. However Bacterial meningitis is more serious and often life-changing or fatal. Recognising meningitis can be hard at first as early symptoms are similar to flu and other common illnesses.
Meningitis can kill in as little as 4 hours
Symptoms
Symptoms can develop suddenly and can include:
- Sudden onset of high fever
- Severe and worsening headache
- Stiff neck
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Joint and muscle pain
- Dislike of bright lights
- Very cold hands and feet
- Seizures
- Confusion/delirium/brain fog
- Extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking
- Fever – particularly with cold hands and feet, a headache and feeling generally unwell
- Floppy, lifeless and drowsy
- A rash. This may not appear and is usually a late sign, but if someone is unwell and you see a rash which does not disappear when pressure is applied to it (the tumbler test) call an ambulance immediately.
These symptoms can appear in any order and some may not appear at all.
Bacterial Meningitis can often progress to sepsis when the infection ends up in the bloodstream. This can make someone extremely unwell, very fast. It can lead to brain damage, amputations, life-changing injury and can kill them.
Symptoms in Toddlers and Babies
Young children are at the most risk for meningitis. Here are some symptoms specific to toddlers and babies:
- Pale, mottled skin
- Cold hands and feet
- Refusing to eat/ feed
- Irritable, not wanting to be held/ touched
- Body going stiff and making jerky movements, or becoming floppy and unable to stand up
- A tense or bulging soft spot on the head (fontanelle)
- High pitched moaning
What to do if you think you may have meningitis
Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia should seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999.
Early treatment can be lifesaving. Trust your instincts. Students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover.
Students should check on their friends regularly if they go to bed unwell. If worried and experiencing any early signs contact your GP or the 111 service for additional help.
Meningitis rash and the tumbler test
Most rashes disappear when you apply pressure to the skin. However, with meningitis, the rash behaves differently and remains visible when you press a clear glass tumbler over the skin (known as the tumbler test). Do not wait for a rash to appear as symptoms can appear in any order and some may not appear at all.
It can be harder to see a rash on dark skin. So be sure to check the soles of the feet, palms of hands, roof of mouth and inside eyelids.
When to call an ambulance
- The casualty is getting worse and you are seriously concerned
- They have a rash you are still able to see when you apply pressure with the side of a glass.
- Someone is seriously unwell and has some of the above symptoms
- Failure to pass urine in 12 hours
Otherwise, call your GP. If you cannot get to talk to the doctor immediately, get the casualty to hospital.
If you are sent home from the hospital or GP surgery and the child gets worse, go back. Trust your instincts and tell them you are worried!
Teenagers
Teenagers are the second most at risk group after young children particularly due to the way that meningitis is spread. Some people carry bacteria in their nose or throat without getting sick, but spread it to others in spit or saliva through kissing, living in close proximity and sharing utensils and cups.
The infection can also be spread by someone with meningitis, although this is less common.
It’s possible to get meningitis more than once.
Data from 2022 by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed a sharp increase in MenB meningitis among university students in England. There are also sporadic outbreaks at universities and colleges and community clusters such as in Kent in 2026.
1 in 4 of teenagers aged 15-19 carry meningococcal bacteria, which can cause meningitis, compared to 1 in 10 of the UK population.
Case study:
19-year-old Lauren Lowe had sepsis and meningitis in October 2022. Lauren was watching her then-partner play football when she started to feel rundown. She thought she was getting a cold, and the next day developed more of a headache. Then the following day, she felt freezing, but her skin was hot and the headache had worsened.
Later that day, she went home to her own house, where she phoned her nurse mum who told Lauren to ring 111. After ringing 111, who told her to go to A&E immediately, Lauren fell asleep from exhaustion. Four hours later, she went to A&E, where she was told she had suspected sepsis.
She was rushed into ICU following a near cardiac arrest. Lauren said: “I couldn’t turn over, I couldn’t speak. I could barely open my eyes. Literally couldn’t do anything. I spent a week in ICU and I’d lost around two stone in weight in five days.”
Lauren left it several days before seeking medical attention – and after a difficult recovery journey, she is urging others, especially young people, to know the signs and act fast if they are ever in a similar position.
Vaccines
The MenACWY vaccine is typically offered to students in year 9 and year 10 in the UK, but anyone up to the age of 25 can receive the vaccine through their GP. It protects against four strains of meningitis. The NHS strongly advises that freshers receive this vaccine before starting university.
Figures from 2023 estimated that 1 in 8 students were unvaccinated. It is vital that parents and students are aware of the risks of meningitis and book a free vaccine from the NHS as soon as possible.
If you haven’t received the MenACWY vaccine, please contact your doctor and schedule an appointment.
Inda Glennie, from the Meningitis Research Foundation said: ‘It’s encouraging to see that the MenACWY vaccine is working, and important for everyone eligible to get the vaccine. However, teenagers and young adults remain susceptible to MenB disease and are not eligible for routine MenB vaccine, due to low case numbers in this age group since the vaccine was introduced for babies.
The data published by UKHSA has highlighted that students, particularly those living on campuses, have a higher risk of meningococcal disease than their peers. It is essential that students, young people and their families remain vigilant to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (triggers sepsis). Meningitis progresses rapidly, so it’s critical to alert someone if ill, and to seek urgent medical advice.’
For specific local outbreaks, the best way to stop the disease spreading is by giving antibiotics to people who may have come into direct contact with the disease.
Meningitis B vaccine has been routinely given to babies and children on the NHS since 2015. It requires 2 doses at around 8 weeks and 30 weeks and a further booster a year later. Those that have not benefitted from this vaccine can get it privately (it is not available other than for babies, on the NHS). It requires a minimum of 2 doses and takes a few weeks to develop immunity. It currently costs about £110 per vaccination.
For more information, visit First Aid for Life.
Emma is also the founder of First Aid for Pets offering first aid training courses for your pets https://firstaidforpets.net/
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