What does the meningitis rash look like and what are the symptoms?

Meningitis can affect anyone and can be very serious if not treated quickly, leading to life-threatening sepsis or permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

The infection causes inflammation of the lining around your brain and spinal cord. Anyone can be affected by it, but it's most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

According to the NHS, meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.

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Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through:

• sneezing

• coughing

• kissing

Meningitis is usually caught from people who carry these viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat but are not ill themselves. It can also be caught from someone with meningitis, but this is less common.

You should get medical help immediately if you're concerned about yourself or your child. You should trust your instincts and not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash develops.

Symptoms of meningitis and sepsis include:

• a high temperature

• cold hands and feet

• vomiting

• confusion

• breathing quickly

• muscle and joint pain

• pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

• spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

• headache

• a stiff neck

• a dislike of bright lights

• being very sleepy or difficult to wake

• fits (seizures)

Babies may also:

• refuse feeds

• be irritable

• have a high-pitched cry

• have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive

• have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head

The meningitis rash usually starts as small, red pinpricks before spreading quickly and turning into red or purple blotches. It does not fade if you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin. The rash can be harder to see on brown or black skin. 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.

A number of vaccinations are available that offer some protection against meningitis. For more information click here.

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