Babies And Toddlers
This is the most difficult age group to assess. Here are some signs that may help:
- Very irritable – especially when held
- High pitch cry – which increases when held
- Bulging fontanelle – soft spot on babies head
- Floppy limbs
- High or low temperature
- Extreme shivering
- Photophobia – dislike of bright lights
- Cold hands and feet
- Stiff or rigid neck
- Fast shallow breathing
- Lethargic – hard to wake
- Seizures – uncontrollable jerky movements
- Refusing feeds
- Vomiting
- Skin rash – spots do not fade when a glass tumbler is pressed against it
Children And Adults
- Headache
- Photophobia – dislike of bright lights
- Cool limbs
- High temperature
- Stiff neck
- Delirium – become confused and disorientated
- Lethargic – hard to wake
- Seizures – uncontrollable jerky movements
- Vomiting and / or diarrhoea
- Skin rash – spots do not fade when a glass tumbler is pressed against it
