Meningitis: Do you know what to look for?

However, there are actually lots of other symptoms that you should look for and by all means I can’t stress this enough – DO NOT WAIT FOR A RASH!

Symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers include:

Fever, cold hands and feet

Refusing food and vomiting

Fretful, dislike being handled

Drowsy, floppy, unresponsive 

Rapid breathing or grunting

Pale/blotchy skin. Spots/rash

Unusual cry/morning

Tense bulging soft spot

Stiff neck, dislike bright lights

Convulsions/seizures

Had I have known that the above list were also symptoms of meningitis, I would have acted quicker when one of our twins, M, started to feel unwell.

M showed the following symptoms:

Fever

Refusing food and vomiting

Drowsy, floppy, unresponsive 

Rapid breathing

Stiff neck, dislike bright lights

SHE DID NOT HAVE A RASH

M complained a lot about how her neck was hurting her. At first my husband and I just thought it was because she’d slept awkward.

A week before becoming ill, she had a runny nose and sore throat. The GP prescribed antibiotics for a throat infection. This was before the vomiting and refusal to eat started. 

Soon after leaving the GP, M was sick, drowsy and had a fever. We noticed her breathing was becoming quicker and quicker.

She couldn’t keep anything down. She hadn’t eaten so brought up bile which started as a clear looking fluid, but soon turned brown with dark ‘clots’ which turned out to be blood.

Meningitis can be viral, but also bacterial which is more serious and it is spread by sneezing, coughing, kissing, sharing items such as cutlery and toothbrushes.

Before M become unwell, I’d read stories about meningitis. Someone my husband knew lost his son to meningitis and I remember reading and seeing the upsetting pictures of Faye, a two year old struck down and killed by meningitis.

It can happen to anyone. It can happen to anyone’s child. It can happen to your child. 

Be aware of the symptoms. Don’t wait for a rash and most importantly see your GP as soon as possible. Don’t delay.

Thankfully, M, didn’t have meningitis, but this situation acted as a reminder for me about just how precious life is and also about how quickly a situation can change and deteriorate. 

For more information about meningitis, click here. You can also download a handy app which has the signs and symptoms of meningitis, as well as lots of information.