Meningitis can kill in hours and therefore early recognition and prompt treatment is key in saving lives.

Meningitis and septicaemia can affect anyone of any age, but under-fives and young adults are most at risk. It is estimated that 3,200 people get bacterial meningitis and associated septicaemia in the UK each year. Those that survive the disease are likely to suffer life-changing disabilities such as loss of limbs, deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, seizures and severe mental impairment.

Childhood meningitis falls

A vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis was introduced in September 2006. The vaccine is offered to babies at two, four and thirteen months, and a catch-up programme for all children aged up to two years old accompanied its introduction as part of the childhood vaccination programme. Since then, figures show that cases involving children have fallen sharply with serious cases prevented, saving lives.

From August 2015, all 17 and 18-year-olds in school year 13 and first-time university students up to the age of 25 will be offered the Men ACWY vaccine as part of the NHS vaccination programme.

Adult meningitis continues to have an impact

The Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) says that:

“Despite recent reductions in meningitis and meningococcal sepsis in children the disease continues to have an impact in the adult population and has considerable mortality associated with it.”

Guidelines have not been updated since 1999 and so an expert group of infectious diseases physicians, neurologists, acute physicians, intensivists, microbiologists, public health experts and patient group representatives was formed, and comprehensive up to date guidelines produced covering ‘the management of adults with suspected and confirmed acute meningitis and meningococcal sepsis, from pre-hospital care to post-discharge support, including clinical features, investigations, treatment, follow-up and prevention’.

The guidelines focus on bacterial meningitis and meningococcal sepsis but also include a section on viral meningitis – a major cause of meningitis in the UK. Viral meningitis is much more common than bacterial meningitis although it is generally less serious with most (although not all) of those affected making a complete recovery.

Linda Glennie (head of research and medical information at MRF) said:

“Immunisation programmes have changed the incidence and causes of the disease in the UK; new diagnostic tests are now available; further research has been conducted into treatments; and the emergence of antibiotic resistance has prompted more responsible antibiotic use. The guideline now includes several recommendations for the follow-up of patients after discharge from hospital, which were not included in the 1999 or 2003 publications. Information provided by our members has been essential in informing these recommendations.”

Read more on the MRF website.