Who is at risk of meningitis?
Meningitis can affect anyone, but it is most common in:
- babies and young children;
- teenagers and young adults; and
- adults with weakened immune systems.
Why is meningitis serious?
Meningitis can lead to life-threatening sepsis and may cause permanent damage to the brain or nerves. Delays in diagnosis or treatment can be fatal.
There are two main types of meningitis:
- Bacterial meningitis – rarer but usually more serious.
- Viral meningitis – generally less severe and usually improves without specific treatment.
Most people with bacterial meningitis who receive prompt treatment make a full recovery. However, some people may be left with long-term complications, including:
- hearing loss or vision loss, which may be partial or total;
- cognitive impairment;
- epilepsy;
- problems with physical co-ordination and balance; and
- limb loss or amputation.
What are the signs and symptoms of meningitis?
Symptoms that should prompt urgent medical assessment include:
- a high temperature (fever);
- vomiting;
- diarrhoea;
- headache;
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (although a rash does not always develop);
- a stiff neck;
- sensitivity to bright lights;
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness; and
- seizures (fits).
In babies, you should also look out for:
- a high temperature with cold hands and feet;
- irritability or distress when being handled;
- drowsiness, floppiness or unresponsiveness;
- rapid breathing or grunting;
- unusual crying or moaning; and
- a tense or bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the head).
These symptoms can appear in any order, and not everyone will develop all of them.
How does meningitis spread?
Some people carry the bacteria that can cause meningitis in their nose or throat without becoming ill themselves.
Bacterial meningitis can spread through close contact with an infected person, including through saliva, such as by kissing or sharing drinks, or through prolonged close contact.
Vaccinations are available to help protect against certain types of bacterial meningitis. These are routinely offered to babies and children. The MenACWY vaccine is also offered to teenagers and young adults.
What are the common themes in meningitis and medical negligence?
Medical negligence claims involving meningitis often arise from delays in diagnosis, hospital admission or treatment with antibiotics.
Common examples include where a GP, hospital doctor or other healthcare professional has:
- failed to recognise the signs and symptoms of meningitis;
- failed or delayed in referring or admitting a patient to hospital;
- failed or delayed in carrying out appropriate investigations;
- failed or delayed in administering urgent IV antibiotics; or
- provided inappropriate antibiotic treatment.
What injuries can lead to a meningitis compensation claim?
A meningitis compensation claim or meningitis negligence claim may arise where delays in diagnosis or treatment amount to medical negligence and cause serious, life-changing injuries.
This can include fatal injury, brain injury, neonatal brain injury, cerebral palsy, amputation or limb loss, as well as long-term complications such as neurological damage, hearing loss or deafness, blindness or visual impairment, epilepsy or seizure disorders, learning difficulties, and speech or communication problems.
Where meningitis is accompanied by septicaemia or sepsis, a medical negligence claim may also involve organ damage, permanent scarring, and the loss of fingers, toes, or limbs.
Quote from author, Alpa Rana, Legal Director and Specialist Medical Negligence Solicitor from MDS, said: “The recent meningitis cases reported in Reading are a stark reminder of how quickly this condition can develop and the devastating impact delays in diagnosis or treatment can have. Early recognition of symptoms and urgent medical intervention remain critical in improving outcomes and potentially saving lives.”
