Meningitis outbreak: Symptoms, how to test and what to avoid after two die in Kent
Two people died after the meningitis epidemic spread in Kent.
At least 13 cases of meningitis were reported by the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) between Friday and Sunday.
The specific type of meningitis has not yet been identified but experts told the BBC they thought it was most likely. Group B meningococcal bacteria. Health authorities are arranging antibiotics for University of Kent students in the Canterbury region as a precaution.
People are being advised to keep an eye out for symptoms after warning that university students are particularly susceptible to the deadly infection.
Here are the symptoms of meningitis and what to do if you suspect you have the infection, according to the NHS.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis affects approximately 2.3 million people worldwide each year. It is estimated that one in 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal, according to the NHS.
Although anyone can get meningitis, it is more common in infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
Early warning signs of meningitis include high fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
As the disease develops, it can make people sleepy, irritable and confused, as well as cause severe muscle pain, pale, blotchy skin, spots or a rash, stiff neck, aversion to bright lights, convulsions or seizures.
Meningitis Now It urges people not to wait until someone develops a rash and to seek medical attention if someone is sick and showing these symptoms.
What causes meningitis?
Meningitis has many different causes, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. However, in the UK, viruses and bacteria are the most common causes.
Other causes of meningitis include certain medications or brain tumors. Meningitis can also occur after a skull fracture or head and neck surgery, according to Now.
Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.
What are the different types?
There are five main types that cause the disease in the UK.
Men B is the most common and also the most lethal.
Other types include MenA, MenC, MenW, and MenY, which are also caused by bacteria.
How is meningitis spread?
Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing or kissing.
Although less common, it is usually caught in people who carry the virus or bacteria in their nose or throat or have meningitis.
How serious is meningitis?
If not treated quickly, it can lead to sepsis, brain or nerve damage, hearing loss, and even death.
Some people with bacterial meningitis may experience hearing or vision loss, memory problems, seizures, or amputation even after treatment.
Can meningitis be treated?
People with viral meningitis usually recover on their own.
Most people with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly also recover completely. However, it usually requires hospitalization for at least a week.
Treatments include antibiotics and the administration of fluids directly into a vein or oxygen through a face mask.
Is there a vaccine for meningitis?
Vaccines to prevent some types of meningitis are available as part of the UK routine vaccination programme.
Vaccines include MenB, 6-in-1, pneumococcal and MMRV vaccines for infants and children, while MenACWY vaccines are offered to teens, sixth graders and new college students.
The MenB vaccine is offered to babies at two, three and 12 months of age.
Men W disease was historically a rare disease in the UK, but from 2009 cases of Men W began to increase each year. As of autumn 2015, the MenC vaccine for school children has been replaced by the MenACWY vaccine and is offered from around the age of 14.
Any young person who misses this vaccine at school will continue to have the right to receive this vaccine until the age of 25. This is especially important for new college entrants, who are at increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease.
What should you do if you think you have meningitis?
The NHS recommends people call 999 for an ambulance or go to their nearest A&E.
People are advised to trust their instincts, as someone with meningitis or sepsis can deteriorate very quickly.
