image of logo

Signs and symptoms of meningitis

Anyone can get meningitis, but babies and young children under five years of age are most at risk.

IMPORTANT: Don’t wait for a rash to develop. Seek immediate medical help if someone is unwell and displays the symptoms of meningitis, particularly if they are a young child.

A baby or young child with meningitis may:

These symptoms can appear in any order, and some may not appear at all.


In older children, teenagers and adults, the symptoms of meningitis can include:

Again these symptoms can appear in any order, and some may not appear at all.


The glass test

glass-test