Meningitis: What are the different forms of the condition?

Campaigners are calling for all children to be given meningitis B vaccines

A rash that does not fade when pressed against a glass is a symptom of meningitis (Meningitis Now)

Hundreds of thousands of petitioners are calling on the NHS to vaccinate children up to the age of 11 against meningitis B, after a family shared a photo of a toddler before she died of the condition.

Two-year-old Faye Burdett died in hospital 11 days after she was diagnosed with the meningitis.

To raise awareness of the condition which most commonly affects those under 5-years-old, Faye’s family shared a photograph on online of her in hospital.

The image shows the child in bed, covered in an angry red rash connected to tubes and wires.

However, meningitis B is not the only form of the condition.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis describes the condition where the membranes which protect and surround the brain and spinal cord become inflamed.

It can affect anyone, but babies and young children are the most vulnerable as their immune systems are not yet fully developed.

What are the different forms?

Meningitis is most often caused by a virus or bacteria. It can also be caused by fungus and parasites or as a side-effect of certain drugs.

The viral form is the most common. It is generally not life-threatening and does not lead to septicaemia, or blood poisoning. However it can leave people with serious side-effects such as memory loss and exhaustion, and patients can experience a slow recovery process.

Bacterial meningitis is considered to be the most serious form. Some of the bacteria which causes meningitis can also cause blood poisoning and in turn lead to severe brain damage, amputations and, in some cases, death, according to the NHS.

However, it is not possible to determine whether a person has viral or bacterial meningitis without undergoing medical tests. Therefore, the NHS stresses that anyone with symptoms of the disease should immediately call 999 for an ambulance.

Symptoms can include a rash that does not fade when pushed with a glass, a stiff neck, confusion, a high fever accompanied by cold hands and feet, and sensitivity to light.

Bacterial meningitis

Many different types of bacteria can cause meningitis. The most common include meningococcus, pneumococcus, tuberculosis, streptococcus agalactiae, and Hib.

Neisseria meningitides, or meningococcus, has the potential to cause large epidemics according to the World Health Organisation. It is split into the subgroups: A, B, C, W, X and Y.

In the UK, group B causes the majority of disease, According to Meningitis Now. There is currently a vaccine against ACWY, and separate vaccines for A and B, respectively.

How is it spread?

Bacterial meningitis is spread by sneezing, coughing, kissing, sharing kitchen utensils, and sharing a toothbrush or cigarette, according to the NHS.

Viral meningitis is usually spread by hand to mouth transmission, but most people infected show no or mild signs.

How is it treated?

Those who have meningitis B need to be admitted to hospital urgently, where they will be given antibiotics.

As antibiotics cannot attack a virus, patients must be cared for, help hydrated and given painkillers until they recover.

Those with fungal meningitis, often with conditions such as HIV/Aids which weaken the immune system, need to be given anti-fungal drugs in hospital.