Meningitis & Septicemia

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Meningococcal disease can develop suddenly, usually as meningitis or septicaemia. 

Septicaemia is another term used to describe blood poisoning.  It is an infection caused by large amounts of bacteria entering the bloodstream.

Both conditions can be potentially life-threatening and can leave long-term implications.  It can affect anyone but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

Meningitis can be very serious if it is not treated quickly. 

The symptoms of Meningitis and Septicaemia are listed below. Not everyone will develop these symptoms – one or more symptoms can appear in any order. They can be mixed between the two illnesses.

Meningitis

• Fever
• Very bad headache
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck
• Dislike of bright lights
•  Rash
• Confusion, delirium
• Severe sleepiness, losing consciousness
• Seizures

Septicaemia

• Fever, and shivering
• Vomiting
• Severe pains, and aches in joints and limbs
• Very cold hands and feet
• Pale, or mottled skin
• Rapid breathing
• Diarrhoea , and stomach cramps
• Red or purple spots/rash that do not fade under pressure
• Difficulty walking, or standing

Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.

Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.

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.

Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.

• MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year
• 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
• pneumococcal vaccine – 2 doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and 1 year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over
• Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year of age
• MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and "fresher" students going to university for the first time

All students are strongly encouraged to check if they have received all of their Meningitis vaccinations, before starting University. UK first year undergraduates should already have been offered MenACWY vaccine at school, College or by their GP before they leave for their HEI. A single dose is required.

1. I haven’t had all my Meningitis vaccinations yet, and I’m starting University for the first time in a month, what do I do?
   
   If a student discovers that they have not received all the appropriate Meningitis vaccinations before University, they are advised to go to their GP to receive the missing vaccination(s) at least 2 weeks before arriving at University. This ensures that the immunisation has time to take effect.
   
   
2. I haven’t been vaccinated, but am a fresher already in University, do I still need to be vaccinated?
   
   If a student forgets to get vaccinated before arrival, they should ensure that they register with a GP as soon as they arrive, and ask for the free vaccination.
   
   
3. I’m not a Fresher but I’ve never been vaccinated, do I need it now?
   
   If a student has not received their full Meningitis vaccinations and it is later on in the academic year, or the student is a second or third year etc, it is not too late to be vaccinated. Make sure that you register with a GP, and get vaccinated as soon as you can.

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly. It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia), and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

Most people with bacterial meningitis, who are treated quickly, will also make a full recovery. Some are left with serious, long-term problems. These can include:

• Hearing loss or vision loss, which may be partial or total
• Problems with memory, and concentration
• Recurrent seizures (epilepsy)
• Co-ordination, movement, and balance problems
• Loss of limbs – amputation of affected limbs is sometimes necessary

Overall, it's estimated that up to 1 in every 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal. (Taken from www.nhs.co.uk)

When is a student is affected by the disease, Swansea University follow guidance issued by Public Health Wales. To support the student and enable the identification of any other students who may be at risk and to ensure they are offered appropriate advice.

On campus:

If you think you or someone you are looking after could have meningitis or sepsis, please contact Security on 01792 604 271 or via the SafeZone app. They can call an ambulance for you and send out first responders to assist you on campus.

Off-Campus:

Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. 

Trust your instincts and do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until the rash develops. Someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse quickly. 

Call NHS111 for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious or you think you may have been exposed to someone with meningitis.