Mother with baby holding a thermometer as the child has a fever

Know the symptoms

Common early symptoms of meningitis vary depending on a person’s age – they can appear in any order and some may not appear at all. They are very similar to a lot of other conditions so if you're unsure, follow your instincts, and seek medical advice as soon as you can.

Symptoms of meningitis in babies and toddlers^1,2

Early symptoms (may appear in any order or some not at all)

Fever
Fever with cold hands and feet
Vomiting
Muscle pain
Headache

Later symptoms (may appear in any order or some not at all)

Rapid breathing or grunting
Tense, bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the top of the head)
Unusual cry, moaning
Neck stiffness
Dislike of bright lights
Convulsions/seizures
Pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure (this can be a sign of sepsis)
Refusing food
Drowsy, floppy, unresponsive

Symptoms of meningitis in children, teenagers, young adults and adults^1,2

Early symptoms (may appear in any order or some not at all)

Fever
Fever with cold hands and feet
Vomiting
Muscle pain
Headache

Later symptoms (may appear in any order or some not at all)

Dislike of bright lights
Convulsions/seizures
Drowsy, difficult to wake
Stiff neck
Confusion and irritability
Pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure (this can be a sign of sepsis)

Baby with a promonent red rash, sleeping in a bed

Do not wait for a rash that does not fade under pressure. This can be a sign of meningococcal sepsis, which can be fatal.

Seek help immediately if this type of rash appears.¹

If you see a rash, do the glass test. Press the side of a clear drinking glass firmly onto the rash, spots or bruises. If it is sepsis, they will not fade. The rash can be harder to see on darker skin tones. Check paler areas, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, roof of the mouth, tummy, whites of the eyes or the inside of the eyelids.

This image is for illustrative purposes.

Call 999

for an ambulance if you think you or someone you know might have meningitis

Call NHS 111 or your GP surgery

if you are concerned that you or someone you know has been exposed to someone with meningitis

Learn more

References

NHS Meningitis website: Symptoms. Accessed November 2024.
Meningitis Now website: Meningitis symptoms in babies & toddlers/children/teenagers and young people. Accessed November 2024.