What you need to know: the symptoms

BACTERIAL meningitis is less common but usually more serious than viral meningitis and requires urgent treatment with antibiotics.

It may be accompanied by septicaemia – blood poisoning.

The bacteria live naturally in the nose and throat of healthy people without causing illness.

Bacterial meningitis occurs most frequently in young children and adolescents and can be expected to occur as isolated cases.

Early signs and symptoms may include: severe headache;

■ fever;

■ nausea;

■ vomiting;

■ feeling generally unwell.

Later symptoms may include:

■ drowsiness;

■ confusion;

■ seizures or fits;

■ being unable to tolerate bright lights (photophobia), although this is less common in young children;

■ a stiff neck – also less common in young children;

■ a rapid breathing rate;

■ a blotchy red rash that does not fade or change colour when you place a glass against it; however the rash is not always present.