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Home >> Meningitis >> Symptoms

Symptoms

Meningitis and septicaemia are extremely serious conditions that can cause death within hours. Both conditions can be hard to recognise at first as the initial symptoms are so similar to those of many mild illnesses - usually fever, vomiting, headache and feeling unwell.

Symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia can appear in any order and some may not appear at all. Septicaemia and meningitis can occur independently or at the same time.

Illustrated below are symptoms that appear in each condition. Symptoms highlighted by a red flag ( ) often appear earlier than others, and before the appearance of more serious symptoms, which are shown in the darker pictures.

Septicaemia
	Fever/vomiting
	Limb/joint/muscle pain
	Cold hands and feet/shivering
	Pale or mottled skin
	Breathing fast/breathless
	Rash (anywhere on the body)
	Sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake
	Confused/delirious

Meningitis
	Fever/vomiting
	Severe headache
	Stiff neck (Less common in young children)
	Discomfort in bright lights (Less common in young children)
	Sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake
	Rash (anywhere on the body)
	Confused/delirious
	Seizures