Guidance

Meningitis – Patient Factsheet

Published 20 March 2026

1. Overview of meningitis 

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective layers that surround the brain and spinal cord, usually triggered by a bacterial or viral infection 

• Some forms of meningitis can develop quickly and may require urgent medical treatment 

• While many people make a full recovery, bacterial meningitis can lead to serious complications such as hearing loss, limb loss or in some cases death, as a result of blood poisoning (sepsis). Prompt treatment lowers the risk of long‑term and life‑threatening complications from the infection 

• Meningitis can affect people of any age, but babies, young children, teenagers, young adults and older adults are at greater risk of infection 

2. Bacterial meningitis and septicaemia  

• Many kinds of bacteria can cause meningitis  

• The bacteria that cause meningitis are not as contagious as some other infections such as measles or COVID-19. They are usually spread through prolonged, close contact including living in the same household as someone with the infection, or intimate contact such as kissing  

• Close quarters or crowded settings are major risk factors and may increase the risk of infection spreading  

•  The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK 

• There are many different strains of meningococcus, but there are six main “strains” (serogroups) that cause meningitis: A, B, C, W, Y and X 

• Meningococcus strain B is the most common cause of meningitis and invasive meningococcal disease 

• Invasive meningococcal disease is when meningitis is accompanied by blood poisoning (sepsis), which is a severe, life-threatening disease   

3. Viral meningitis 

• Meningitis resulting from viral infection (viral meningitis) is the most common form of meningitis. It is usually mild and often gets better without treatment within 7-10 days    

•  While many viruses can cause meningitis, enteroviruses are the most common cause of viral meningitis 

• Most common viral infections in the UK do not result in meningitis. 

• Most people with viral meningitis make a full recovery, however occasionally very rare cognitive or neurological complications may persist 

• Viruses that can cause viral meningitis are more contagious than the bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis. They can be spread by coughs and sneezes, or poor hand hygiene   

4. Age and risk of meningitis 

• The infections that cause meningitis are highly age-dependent 

• Infants under 1 year of age are at greatest risk from infection by meningococcus bacteria, and of developing invasive meningococcal disease 

• Higher rates of meningococcus infection and invasive meningococcal disease are also seen in teenagers and young adults   

• Adults over the age of 65 are at an increased risk of certain types of meningitis, such as pneumococcal meningitis 

5. Vaccines that protect against meningitis 

• Several routine vaccines offered in the UK can help protect against the main causes of bacterial and viral meningitis 

• These include the MenB, MenACWY, pneumococcal, 6‑in‑1 and MMRV vaccines 

• These vaccines work by helping the immune system to recognise certain meningitis-causing bacteria and viruses, reducing the risk of people becoming severely ill, having to be admitted to hospital and developing long‑term complications 

• For more information and advice about eligibility, speak to your GP, pharmacist or practice nurse  

MenB vaccine

• The vaccine is estimated to protect against 66-88% of meningococcal B strains in England and Wales 

• The vaccine is given to infants at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year of age, as part of the NHS routine childhood vaccination schedule, to help protect against meningococcal B bacteria   

6-in-1 vaccine (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB) 

• The 6-in-1 vaccine offers protection against six serious illnesses including Hib, a type of bacteria that can cause meningitis 

• Children are given four doses of the 6-in-1 vaccines as part of the NHS vaccination schedule 

Pneumococcal vaccine

• This vaccine protects against infections caused by pneumococcal bacteria which can cause meningitis 

• The pneumococcal vaccine is offered to children and older adults 

MMRV vaccine

• The MMRV vaccine is a combined vaccine that helps to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella – viral infections that can sometimes lead to meningitis 

• For more information about the MMRV vaccine, please refer to the MMRV vaccine factsheet 

MenACWY vaccine 

• This vaccine protects against four types of meningitisococcal infection known as groups A,C,W, and Y 

• This vaccine is routinely given to 13-14 year olds as part of their school vaccinations 

6. Safety and effectiveness of meningitis vaccines 

• Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against the main bacterial and viral infections that can cause meningitis 

• Like all vaccines approved for use in the UK, meningitis vaccines have gone through a rigorous development process to test their safety, quality and effectiveness 

• The MHRA continuously monitors and reviews suspected adverse drug reactions through the Yellow Card scheme to ensure all vaccines remain safe throughout their use 

• Millions of doses of meningitis vaccines are safely given each year as part of the routine NHS vaccination programme 

• For more information about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines approved for use in the UK, please refer to the Vaccine safety - patient factsheet 

7. Symptoms of meningitis 

• Meningitis can worsen quickly, so it is important to spot symptoms early 

• Early signs can resemble other common illnesses such as hangover, flu or a stomach bug, and symptoms can appear in any order or may not appear at all 

• Symptoms often include: 

• a high temperature that comes on suddenly 

• cold hands and feet 

• stiff neck 

• Joint and muscle pain 

• Severe and worsening headache 

• dislike of bright lights 

• seizures (fits) 

• Vomiting and diarrhoea 

• Confusion 

• Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking 

• spots or a rash (that doesn’t fade when pressed with a glass) 

• Call 999 or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis 

• Call NHS 111 for advice if you are unsure or worried 

8. Report side effects to the Yellow Card scheme 

You should report any suspected side effects of vaccination to the MHRA via a Yellow Card to: 

• the Yellow Card website 

• the Yellow Card app; download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store 

• Reports help us gain a better understanding of vaccine interactions and safeguard patients through vigilant monitoring