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Warning-sign checks

Staphylococcal meningitis: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services now if you or someone else has possible meningitis symptoms, especially:

    • Severe headache with fever or neck stiffness
    • Confusion, unusual drowsiness, or difficulty waking
    • A seizure
    • New weakness, facial drooping, speech difficulty, or loss of coordination
    • Rapid deterioration or severe illness
    • Concerning symptoms after neurosurgery or with a brain shunt or drain

    Milder ongoing fatigue or concentration problems can usually be discussed at routine follow-up unless they suddenly worsen or occur with emergency symptoms.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Do not wait for all the typical symptoms to appear.

    Do not wait for a rash.

    Contact the follow-up team promptly for a returning fever, worsening headache, persistent vomiting, wound redness or discharge, problems with a shunt, new hearing changes, or recovery that is moving backwards.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has a fever with a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under pressure, or severe headache
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    After hospital treatment, attend planned follow-up appointments.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Staphylococcal meningitis. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.