Meningitis Symptoms in Teenagers and Young People
Everyone is at risk; however, teenagers – particularly first year college students – and young people are the second most at-risk group.
Meningitis and Young People
Know the signs. Mind your friends. ACT FAST.
Everyone can get meningitis, but teenagers and young adults are one of the groups more commonly affected.
For students, living, studying and socialising closely with other people can mean more opportunities for infections to spread. Meningococcal bacteria can be carried in the nose or throat without causing illness. Carriage is particularly common in teenagers and young adults.
Meningitis and septicaemia can develop quickly. Knowing the symptoms could help you recognise when you or a friend needs urgent medical attention.
Common signs and symptoms for meningitis and septicaemia
Be aware of all the signs and symptoms. Symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all.
Fever, cold hands and feet
Vomiting
Severe muscle pain
Severe headache
Stiff neck
Dislike bright lights
Drowsy, difficult to wake
Confusion and irritability
Pale, blotchy skin. Spots/rash
Convulsions/seizures
Why Are Teenagers and Young People at Risk?
Meningococcal bacteria are an important cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia. There are several different groups of meningococcal bacteria, including A, B, C, W and Y.
Around 1 in 4 teenagers aged 15-19 can carry meningococcal bacteria without having any symptoms. Most carriers do not become ill, but the bacteria can occasionally cause serious disease.
Meningococcal bacteria can spread through close contact, including kissing and sharing saliva. This means that students living in shared accommodation, halls or houses and spending lots of time socialising together should be aware of the symptoms.
Why Should Students Be Particularly Aware?
Starting college or university can mean:
- New people.
- New surroundings.
- Shared accommodation.
- Late nights.
- Busy social lives.
It’s easy to put feeling unwell down to a cold, flu, a stomach bug or a hangover. But meningitis and septicaemia can become serious very quickly.
If your friend is unusually unwell, getting worse or behaving differently from normal, don’t leave them alone. Check on them and take their symptoms seriously.
Vaccine Awareness
MenACWY does not protect against every type of meningococcal disease.
Vaccination can help protect against some types of meningitis and septicaemia.
If you are a teenager or young adult, talk to your GP about meningococcal vaccines, including the MenB vaccine, and ask whether vaccination is recommended for you.
Your GP can advise you about the vaccines available in Ireland, whether you have received the vaccines recommended for your age, and whether you may benefit from additional vaccination.
Mind Your Friends
Sometimes the person who is becoming seriously ill doesn’t realise how sick they are.
If your friend is:
- getting rapidly worse
- difficult to wake
- confused or acting unusually
- complaining of a severe headache or stiff neck
- vomiting repeatedly
- experiencing severe muscle pain
- developing a rash
- having a seizure
- or simply very unwell and getting worse
ACT. Don’t wait for all the symptoms to appear.
Trust your instincts. ACT FAST.
In Case of Emergencies
Call 999 or 112 for an ambulance if someone is seriously ill, or go to your nearest Emergency Department.