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Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. 

Symptoms of meningitis, septicaemia and meningococcal disease include: 

  • headache 

  • a stiff neck 

  • a dislike of bright lights 

  • a high temperature 

  • cold hands and feet 

  • vomiting 

  • confusion 

  • breathing quickly 

  • muscle and joint pain 

  • pale, mottled or blotchy skin 

  • spots or a rash 

  • being very sleepy or difficult to wake 

  • fits (seizures) 

There are two types of meningitis: 

  • Bacterial: a serious infection that requires urgent treatment with antibiotics. It can result in long term complications. 

  • Viral: generally a less serious infection which doesn't often result in long term complications. It does not need treatment with antibiotics. 

Unfortunately, without tests, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish the two. 

However, following the introduction over the past few years of routine vaccinations for babies against infections such a meningococcus, pneumococcus and haemophilus, the rates of bacterial meningitis in children have more than halved. As a result, the number of children affected each year by bacterial meningitis in the UK is now less than 1 in 10,000. 

When should you worry?

If your child has any of the following:

  • Breathing very fast, too breathless to talk, eat or drink  

  • Working hard to breathe, drawing in of the muscles below the ribs, or noisy breathing (grunting) 

  • Breathing that stops or pauses 

  • Is pale, blue, mottled or feels unusually cold to touch 

  • Difficult to wake up, very sleepy or confused 

  • Weak, high-pitched cry or can’t be settled 

  • Has a fit (seizure) 

  • Has a rash that does not go away with pressure (the ‘Glass Test’)  

  • Is under 3 months old with temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features) 

You need urgent help

Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999

If your child has any of the following:

  • A severe headache and neck stiffness/pain 

  • Discomfort with bright lights (photophobia) 

  • Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe 

  • Dry skin, lips or tongue 

  • Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours 

  • Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount) 

  • Irritable (Unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down) 

  • Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features) 

  • Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors) 

  • Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months 

  • Getting worse or you are worried about them 

You need to contact a doctor or nurse today

Please call your GP surgery or contact NHS 111 - Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.(111 online does not currently take questions about children aged under 5, so if your child is 4 or younger,  please call 111).

If symptoms persist for 4 hours or more and you have not been able to speak to either a member of staff from your GP practice or to NHS 111 staff, recheck that your child has not developed any red features.

If none of the above features are present:

  • Watch them closely for any change and look out for any red or amber symptoms 

  • If your child has any other symptoms associated with their fever, you may want to look at the information on sore throat, cough, earache, diarrhoea and vomiting or tummy ache or our other pathways

  • Additional advice is also available to young families for coping with crying of well babies

  • If your child has a long term condition or disability and you are worried please contact your regular team or follow any plans that they have given you

Self care

Continue providing your child’s care at home. If you are still concerned about your child, call NHS 111 – dial 111

What should you do?

  • ​​​​​Only a tiny proportion of children who have a fever and are miserable have bacterial meningitis. Look closely at the symptoms in the red and amber box above  
  • Children should be assessed by a medical professional if you are worried.
  • If your child seems unsettled or uncomfortable, you may wish to give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen.  
  • To make your child more comfortable, you may want to lower their temperature using paracetamol (calpol) and or ibuprofen. If you've given your child ibuprofen and if they're still uncomfortable 2 hours later, you could try giving them paracetamol as well. If this works, you can alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen (every 2-3 hours), giving only 1 medicine at a time. Do not give more than the maximum daily dose of either medicine and more information on medicines can be found here
  • Avoid tepid sponging your child. It doesn’t actually reduce your child’s temperature and may cause your child to shiver. 
  • Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids. 
  • However, remember that fever is a normal response that may help the body to fight infection and paracetamol/ibuprofen will not get rid of it entirely. 
  • Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids. 
  • If a rash appears, do the glass test. 

Where should you seek help?

For wear and tear, minor trips and everything in between

Self-care

You can treat your child's very minor illnesses and injuries at home.

Some illnesses can be treated in your own home with support and advice from the services listed when required, using the recommended medicines and getting plenty of rest.

Sound advice

Children can recover from illness quickly but also can become more poorly quickly; it is important to seek further advice if a child's condition gets worse.

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Pharmacists are experts in many aspects of healthcare and can offer advice on a wide range of long-term conditions and common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets. You don’t need an appointment and many have private consultation areas, so they are a good first port of call. Your pharmacist will say if you need further medical attention.

Sound advice

  • Visit a pharmacy if your child is ill, but does not need to see a GP
  • Remember that if your child's condition gets worse, you should seek further medical advice immediately
  • Help your child to understand - watch this video with them about going to the pharmacy

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

The 0-19 Service for children and young people is delivered by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and offers a single point of access for Health Visiting, School Nursing and the Family Nurse Partnership. You can contact the teams using the details below:

Single Point of Access (SPA): 01865 903 800

Email: cyp0-19@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Chat Health Parentline

Text us any time for confidential advice and support and you will have a response the next working day (Monday-Friday exluding Bank Holidays).

Parents and carers for children aged 0-4: Text 07312 263 081

Parents and carers of children aged 5-11: Text 07312 263 227

Young people aged 11-19 and their parents and carers: Text 07312 263 08

Health Visitors

Health visitors are registered nurses or midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing. They provide a universal service, targeted to individual needs for children aged 0-5 years. Learn more about the Oxfordshire Health Visiting Service here!

School and college Health Nurses

School Health Nurses are specialist public health nurses and have offices across Oxfordshire. They work very closely with Health Visitors to support school aged children. They are available for young people to access in secondary schools and colleges, and offer a service to children who are home educated. They work closely with children, young people and their families to support and promote health and wellbeing. Learn more about the Oxfordshire School and college Health Nursing Service here!

Family Nurse Partnership

The Family Nurse Partnership service supports parents who are aged 19 years or under at conception, or under 21 years if they have been in care. The Family Nurse works alongside younger parents in their home, offering health, wellbeing and development support and information from the early stages of pregnancy, usually up until your child is two. Learn more about the Family Nurse Partnership service here!

GPs assess, treat and manage a whole range of health problems. They also provide health education, give vaccinations and carry out simple surgical procedures. Your GP will arrange a referral to a hospital specialist should you need it.

Sound advice

You have a choice of service:

  • Doctors or GPs can treat many illnesses that do not warrant a visit to A&E
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about visiting the GP or going to a walk in centre

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

If you’re not sure which NHS service you need, you can call 111 or use 111 online.

Please note that 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

An adviser will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and then give you the advice you need, or direct you straightaway to the best service for you in your area.

Sound advice

Use NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do next, have any questions about a condition or treatment or require information about local health services

For information on common childhood illnesses go to What is wrong with my child?

Emergency Departments (A&E) provide vital care for life-threatening emergencies, such as loss of consciousness, suspected heart attacks, breathing difficulties, or severe bleeding that cannot be stopped. If you’re not sure it’s an emergency, call 111 for advice.

Sound advice

  • Many visits to A&E and calls to 999 could be resolved by any other NHS services
  • If your child's condition is not critical, choose another service to get them the best possible treatment
  • Help your child to understand – watch this video with them about going to A&E or riding in an ambulance
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