Why it’s so crucial to treat meningitis promptly

The recent meningitis outbreak in Kent has highlighted the dangers of meningococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis.

At least 20 young people have been infected and, tragically, two individuals have died. It is thought that the young people were exposed to the disease in a nightclub.

But what is meningitis, and why can it sometimes be difficult to diagnose? Our medical negligence team at Attwaters has put together this blog post to assist anyone with concerns about the possibility of medical negligence.

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, is caused by meningococcal bacteria. This is a severe but relatively rare condition which, if left untreated, can cause meningitis – inflammation of the brain lining – and sepsis.

Meningitis is a devastating disease and can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages. A delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis could lead to the patient being left with hearing loss, brain damage or a permanent disability.

Meningitis patients can go on to develop septicaemia and sepsis, which can progress quickly and prove fatal.

This is why recognising the symptoms of the disease and acting as quickly as possible is so vital.

There are several different strains of meningococcal bacteria, including MenA, MenB, MenC, MenW, MenX and MenY.  However, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency, MenB accounted for more than four in every five meningitis cases in England between 2024 and 2025.  

MenB bacteria usually live harmlessly in the throat but can cause serious illness if they enter the blood or spinal fluid.

Why is meningitis so difficult to diagnose?

Meningitis can be tough to diagnose because it can present like many other conditions, including the ‘flu.  Early symptoms can be confused with those of other common illnesses and include vomiting, aches, severe fatigue, fever, headaches and cold hands and feet.

However, someone with meningitis or septicaemia will usually become seriously ill very quickly.

Symptoms can appear in any order and patients may not display all of them.  Those of meningitis typically include a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, severe headaches, a rash, fits and confusion.

The patient can become disoriented, and in young adults, this can easily be mistaken for the effects of alcohol or drugs.

Who is most at risk of meningitis?

Those most at risk of developing meningitis tend to be babies, children, teenagers and young adults.  This is because people of these ages tend to mix more in a social context, and the disease is transmitted through close human contact – kissing, sharing the same home and sharing drinks and vapes, for example.  

What are the medical guidelines for treating meningitis?

NICE guidelines stipulate that healthcare professionals should have a “strong suspicion” of bacterial meningitis if the patient presents with these so-called “red flag” symptoms: headache, fever, a stiff neck and an altered level of consciousness or cognition.

They should also suspect meningococcal disease if the patient has a rash characterised by bleeding beneath the skin (known as haemorrhagic), which does not disappear when pressure is applied (non-blanching), with lesions bigger than 2mm, a rapidly progressing non-blanching or purpuric (purplish) rash, along with any other symptoms of bacterial meningitis. They should also not rule out meningococcal disease if no rash is present.

Healthcare professionals should also check the patient’s whole body for a rash, which can be hard to spot on black, brown or tanned skin. As such, NICE also advises that they should check for pinpoint-sized bleeding spots, known as petechiae, in the conjunctiva – the mucous membranes which cover the eyes and line the eyelids.

Suspected cases should be transferred to hospital as an emergency and on arrival, the patient should immediately be assessed by a senior clinical decision maker. Intravenous antibiotics should be administered within one hour of arrival at the hospital.

However, blood tests and a lumbar puncture (when considered safe to do so) should take place before antibiotics for suspected bacterial meningitis or meningococcal disease are administered. A bacterial throat swab should also be taken.

What are some examples of medical negligence with respect to meningitis?

If NICE regulations were not followed and the infection was not spotted and treated promptly, there may be grounds to pursue a claim for medical negligence.

However, it must be demonstrated that any delay in treatment was negligent and that treating the patient earlier would have changed the clinical outcome.

If you are concerned that a loved one’s meningitis was misdiagnosed or negligently treated, you can contact our experienced medical negligence team in confidence.

Call us today on 0330 221 8855 or contact enquiries@attwaters.co.uk for trusted, independent advice.