Symptoms in babies
Is your baby getting worse fast? Babies can get ill very quickly, so check often.
- Tense or bulging soft spot
- High Temperature
- Very sleepy/staring expression/too sleepy to wake up
- Vomiting/refusing to feed
- Irritable when picked up, with a high pitch or moaning cry
- Breathing fast / difficulty breathing
- Blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue
- Extreme shivering
- A stiff body with jerky movements, or else floppy / lifeless
- 'Pin prick' rash / marks or purple bruises on the body
- Cold hands and feet
- Sometimes diarrhoea
- Pain/ irritability from muscle aches or severe limb/joint pain
Not every baby gets all these symptoms. Symptoms can appear in any order.
What is the risk to my baby?
Most babies have natural resistance to these diseases. Meningitis vaccines give excellent protection but can't prevent all forms of meningitis and septicaemia.
What should I look out for?
Early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia (the blood poisoning form of the disease) can be like other childhood illnesses, but a baby will usually get ill quickly and get worse fast.
Septicaemic rash
Watch out for tiny red or brown pin prick marks which can change into purple blotches or blood blisters. If your baby gets a rash, do the Tumbler Test (see below)
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Early stages of septicaemia
(blood poisoning)
(picture courtesy Dr A Riordan)
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Typical rash of septicaemia
(picture courtesy Dr A Riordan)
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Septicaemic rash inside the eyelids
(picture courtesy D A Warrell)
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Septicaemic rash on black skin
This rash can be harder to see on dark skin, so check for spots over baby's whole body, especially on paler areas like palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, on the tummy, inside the eyelids, and on the roof of the mouth.
What should I do if I am worried about my baby?
Trust your instincts. If you think your baby has meningitis or septicaemia get medical help immediately from your GP, or go to the nearest hospital A & E. Tell them you are worried it could be meningitis or septicaemia.
Tumbler test for septicaemia
If a glass tumbler is pressed firmly against a septicaemic rash, the marks will not fade. You will be able to see the rash through the glass. If this happens get medical advice immediately. It is harder to see on dark skin, so check paler areas. Remember a very ill baby needs medical help even if they have no rash or a rash that fades.
Picture courtesy Prof P Brandtzaeg
Find out more information about the symptoms in toddlers.
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Page last updated 01.02.07