MENINGITIS is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spine and can be very serious if not treated quickly.
But people often mistake it for flu as many of the symptoms overlap.
Drowsiness, a dislike of bright lights and a severe headache are all signs of meningitisCredit: Getty
Some of the most common signs for both conditions include a fever, headache and muscle pain.
But there are some key differences, according to the NHS and Meningitis Now.
Several should be easy to spot when your alarm goes off in the morning. These include:
- Drowsiness, unresponsiveness or being difficult to wake
- Dislike of bright lights
- Confusion and irritability
- Stiff neck
- Severe headache
Experts say other key indicators are:
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Cold hands and feet
- Pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash (that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it)
- Breathing faster than usual
- Convulsions or seizures
Most importantly, flu frequently gets better on its own, while meningitis is a medical emergency.
Meningitis, which is spread through coughing, sneezing and kissing, affected around 8,000 people in the UK every year before Covid.
This number has since decreased, but it remains a “global public health challenge”, according to the World Health Organization.
A 2019 study found there were 2.82million cases internationally in 2016, with 236,000 deaths.
Around 112,000 of these were reportedly in children under five.
While everyone is at risk, it is more common in babies, kids, teenagers, young adults, older people and those with weakened immune systems.
There are two main types – viral and bacterial.
Several different viruses and bacteria can cause meningitis, including:
- Meningococcal bacteria – A, B, C, W, X, Y and Z
- Pneumococcal bacteria
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria
- Enteroviruses
- The mumps virus
- The herpes simplex virus
Vaccines are available to protect against many of these infections.
If you or someone you know is displaying symptoms, it is vital to act quickly.
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E, the NHS advises.
Patients diagnosed with meningitis are usually treated in hospital for at least a week.
This normally involves antibiotics, fluids and oxygen, and results in a full recovery.
However, some people are left with serious, long-term health complications, such as balance problems, memory and concentration difficulties, recurrent seizures, vision or hearing loss, and amputation.
Vaccinations which offer some protection against meningitis
Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.
These include the:
- MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at one year
- 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age
- Pneumococcal vaccine – two doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and one year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over
- Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at one year of age
- MMR vaccine – offered to babies at one year and a second dose at three years and four months
- MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and “fresher” students going to university for the first time
Source: NHS
