17/03/2026
Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly.*
Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:
- a high temperature (fever)
- being sick
- a headache
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck
- a dislike of bright lights
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- seizures (fits)
These symptoms can appear in any order. *You do not always get all the symptoms.*
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.
Trust your instincts and do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash develops.
*Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly.*
The UK Health Security Agency has written a great blog explaining more here:
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/.../what-is-meningitis.../
And you can check out the NHS website for more.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis/
Cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been confirmed in Kent. Sadly, 2 people are known to have died. It's important to know the signs of symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Get more info from NHS.
đ nhs.uk/conditions/meningitis