What symptoms to watch out for as fresh meningitis outbreak kills one | UK | News

Britons have been urged to be aware of the warning signs of meningitis after a new cluster of cases in Reading left one person dead and two people needing medical attention.

The latest cases, confirmed today by the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA), come just weeks after an outbreak in Kent that left two people dead and many others sickened.

One of the cases identified in Reading was confirmed to be meningitis B, the same strain responsible for the cluster of cases in Kent. The student who died following the outbreak in Reading was enrolled at Henley College in Oxfordshire. The UKHSA stated that close contacts were offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure and stressed that the risk to the general public remained low.

Meningitis can affect anyone; However, babies, toddlers, teenagers and university students are considered among the most vulnerable groups due to close contact in schools, nurseries and shared accommodation.

According to reports, there are several types of meningococcal disease, including MenB, MenC, MenW and MenY, and vaccines are available that protect against some of the most dangerous types. Mirror.

Meningitis symptoms

Meningitis symptoms can appear suddenly and in any order, according to the NHS. Some symptoms may not appear at all.

When the bacteria responsible for meningitis enter the bloodstream, it can trigger a severe immune response, leading to life-threatening sepsis. The NHS recommends that you seek immediate medical attention if you have any concerns about yourself or your child.

Symptoms of meningitis and sepsis include:

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

– spots or redness (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)

– dislike of bright lights

-being very sleepy or having difficulty waking up

– crying loudly

– having a stiff body, being flabby or unresponsive

-They have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head

– Someone with meningitis or sepsis may get worse very quickly.

meningitis rash

Although meningitis is often associated with a rash, not every person who contracts the disease develops a rash.

In some cases, the rash may appear only in the final stages, and sometimes early scars may disappear when pressure is applied.

Health experts advise that people should not rely solely on the presence of a rash when identifying symptoms of meningitis, as symptoms can vary significantly from person to person.

How is meningitis spread?

Meningitis can be transmitted through close contact with an infected person.

– contact with a person’s saliva, for example kissing them or sharing drinks or e-cigarettes

– Being in close contact with the person for a long time, such as living in the same house

The infection is usually spread by people who carry the viruses or bacteria responsible for meningitis in their nose or throat but do not show any symptoms themselves. The infection can also be transmitted by a person with meningitis, but this occurs less frequently.

meningitis vaccine

A variety of vaccines are available across the UK to protect against meningitis.

Children should receive most of these vaccines as part of the NHS vaccination schedule, but parents who are unsure whether their child’s vaccinations are up to date should contact their GP.

The MenB vaccine protects against meningococcal group B bacteria, a common cause of meningitis among young children in the UK. The vaccine is recommended for babies at 8 weeks of age, followed by a second dose at 12 weeks and a booster at 1 year of age. Additional vaccines that provide some degree of protection against the disease include the 6-in-1 vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, MMRV vaccine, and MenACWY vaccine.

You can find more details about each of these vaccines on the NHS website.