Spot the symptoms
Meningitis and septicaemia are not always easy to spot. The early signs are often similar to flu or a hangover.
As well as using the symptoms listed below to check for meningitis, new guidance advises you to seek immediate medical advice if symptoms include very cold hands and feet, pains in the legs and pale mottled (blotchy) skin.
Other symptoms to check for are:
- high temperature or fever
- vomiting, sometimes diarrhoea
- severe headache
- neck stiffness (unable to touch the chin to the chest).
- joint or muscle pains, sometimes stomach cramps with septicaemia.
- dislike of bright lights
- drowsiness
- confusion or disorientation
- a rash
Symptoms don’t appear in any particular order and some might not appear at all. They may develop over a day or two, but can sometimes develop in just hours. If you’re worried get medical help urgently.
The rash can be harder to see on darker skin. Look for spots or bruises on paler areas – like palms of the hands or soles of feet. There is sometimes a rash on the surface of the eye – the part mainly covered by the eyelid.
The glass test
Press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly onto the spots or bruises - they won't fade if it is septicaemia. In a small number of cases the rash may fade at first then later change into one that doesn't.