Most parents know the classic symptoms of meningitis in children, but few are aware of the other telltale signs. The experts explain how to recognise the Red Flag symptoms.

Most parents know the classic symptoms of meningitis, and as a result are often paranoid that their child has the killer disease when they develop any rash.

But a rash isn't the only sign of meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which affect 3,000 people a year in the UK, and cause 300 deaths - half of which are in the under-fives.

There are a number of earlier, less well-known pointers, and the Meningitis Research Foundation is highlighting these 'Red Flag' symptoms:

  • cold hands and feet
  • limb pain
  • pale or mottled skin

    Such symptoms typically occur five to eight hours before the classic symptoms of rash, neck stiffness and impaired consciousness.

The foundation's chief executive, Denise Vaughan, says: "This disease can progress so fast that within a few hours of the initial symptoms, a previously healthy child could be in intensive care fighting for their life.

"We aim to save lives by alerting people to the 'Red Flag' symptoms and encouraging them to get symptoms information from our helpline.

"Early diagnosis is crucial."

As well as the Red Flag symptoms, other signs of the disease include a severe headache, rash, fever, vomiting, drowsiness and seizures. While a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights are also symptoms, they are unusual in young children.

In babies, symptoms can include tense or bulging fontanelle, getting paler or turning blue, refusing to feed, and crying.

Nine-month-old Katie Bell exhibited some of these signs and all the Red Flag symptoms when she developed meningococcal meningitis. Her mum Emma says: "She was really pale, wasn't eating and was being sick.

"My nephew had had meningitis, so I knew the signs. She was really floppy and didn't want to wake up, and her hands were cold, but she didn't have a rash."

As she developed more symptoms, the Bells rushed Katie to hospital, and at around the same time she developed a rash that rapidly covered her whole body.

She was quickly admitted and given antibiotics, which successfully beat the disease.

The little girl, now two, was discharged after a week, and made a full recovery.

"We definitely caught it at the right time," her mum says.

"It's vital to recognise the early symptoms, and even if you think you're being silly, it's best to get them checked out - it's better to be safe than sorry."

There are vaccines which protect against some, but not all, forms of the diseases, and this month a vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis has been introduced into the UK's childhood immunisation programme.

Pneumococcal meningitis is more life-threatening than other major types of meningitis, and leaves around half of survivors with permanent disabilities such as brain damage and deafness.

Since the vaccine's introduction in the US, cases of severe pneumococcal disease have dropped by 94% in children under five. The vaccine will now be offered to all UK children under the age of two.

  • For more information about meningitis visit www.meningitis.org.uk or call the Meningitis Research Foundation helpline on 080 8800 3344.