What is meningitis and septicaemia? Meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. Very occasionally, the meningococcal bacteria can cause serious illness, (inflammation of the lining of the brain) and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can rapidly lead to sepsis. The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.
The UK Health Security Agency states that students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs of meningitis because they can be easily confused with other illnesses such as a bad cold, flu or even a hangover.
Further information
Symptoms
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The onset of illness is often sudden and early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are vital.
Early symptoms, which may not always be present, include:
a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass sudden onset of high fever severe and worsening headache stiff neck vomiting and diarrhoea joint and muscle pain dislike of bright lights very cold hands and feet seizures confusion/delirium extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking rapid breathing pale blotch skin If you or a friend develop symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, particularly if symptoms are getting worse, seek medical help urgently.
Treatments
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People with suspected meningitis will usually have tests in hospital to confirm the diagnosis and check whether the condition is the result of a viral or bacterial infection.
Bacterial meningitis usually needs to be treated in hospital for at least a week.
Treatments include:
antibiotics given directly into a veinfluids given directly into a vein oxygen through a face mask Viral meningitis tends to get better on its own within 7 to 10 days and can often be treated at home.
Getting plenty of rest and taking painkillers and anti-sickness medication can help relieve the symptoms in the meantime.
If you develop symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, particularly if symptoms are getting worse, seek medical help urgently.
Vaccination and protection
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There are numerous strains of the meningococcal infection. The MenACWY vaccination gives good protection against MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY. This vaccination is routinely offered in the UK to school pupils aged 13 or 14, but students who have not previously had the MenACWY vaccine to receive it MenB vaccinations have been part of the routine vaccination programme for infants in the UK since 2015; anyone born prior to 2015 will not have received MenB vaccination via the NHS programme. The NHS does not provide Men B vaccination out with the national routine schedule i.e. children over the age of 2 and adults are not eligible for MenB vaccination on the NHS. There are a number of private providers available who will be able to administer MenB vaccination. We cannot recommend any one private provider over another. If anyone is unsure of previous vaccinations they have received and would have received their vaccinations in the UK, they can contact their GP to request these. For anyone who would have received their vaccinations elsewhere, they should contact the relevant health authority directly to request their vaccination history. If anyone eligible has missed their MenACWY vaccination, their GP can make a referral for this. We would encourage all students to register with a GP close to their term-time address.
External support
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