What Is Meningitis? A Complete Guide to Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment
Medically reviewed by The Online GP by The Wellness Medical Team — Last updated: 21 March 2026
Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the meninges — the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous form, with a case fatality rate of 8–15%, the ability to kill within 24 hours, and the potential to cause permanent disability in up to 20% of survivors. The most common bacterial cause in the UK is Neisseria meningitidis group B (MenB), the strain responsible for the 2026 Kent outbreak that has reached 27 cases and 2 deaths. Vaccination is the most effective prevention, and most cases of bacterial meningitis in the UK are now vaccine-preventable.
If you suspect meningitis, call 999 immediately. Do not wait.
For vaccination enquiries, same-day GP appointments, or any health concern, contact The Online GP by The Wellness. WhatsApp → | Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com
The Different Types of Meningitis
Not all meningitis is the same. Understanding the different types helps you assess the seriousness of the condition and the value of vaccination.
Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous form and a medical emergency. The main bacterial causes in the UK are Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcal disease — responsible for the Kent outbreak), Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal meningitis — the most common cause in adults over 50), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib — once common in children, now rare due to vaccination), Group B streptococcus (GBS — primarily affects newborns in the first few weeks of life), and Listeria monocytogenes (rare, mainly affects pregnant women, newborns, and immunocompromised adults). Bacterial meningitis requires immediate treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Every hour of delay worsens the prognosis.
Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial meningitis but usually much less severe. Most cases are caused by enteroviruses, which are particularly common in summer and autumn. Other viral causes include mumps virus (preventable by MMR vaccination), herpes simplex virus, and varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox/shingles). Viral meningitis typically resolves on its own with rest and supportive care, though it can cause significant discomfort and fatigue that lasts for weeks.
Fungal meningitis is rare in the UK and primarily affects people with severely weakened immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV/AIDS or on heavy immunosuppressive therapy. It is not contagious from person to person.
The critical clinical challenge is that the early symptoms of bacterial and viral meningitis can be identical. This is why all suspected meningitis is treated as a medical emergency until bacterial causes are ruled out through lumbar puncture and blood cultures.
Meningococcal Disease: The Focus of the Kent Outbreak
Meningococcal disease deserves particular attention because it is the cause of the 2026 Kent outbreak and the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children and young adults in the UK. Neisseria meningitidis exists in several serogroups — A, B, C, W, X, and Y. Group B has historically accounted for over 80% of laboratory-confirmed meningococcal cases in the UK. The bacterium lives harmlessly in the nose and throat of 3–25% of the population (with the highest carriage rates in teenagers), and is transmitted through close, prolonged contact — kissing, sharing drinks, and living in shared accommodation. In rare cases, the bacteria breach the body's defences and enter the bloodstream, causing two main presentations. Meningococcal meningitis occurs when the bacteria infect the meninges, causing headache, neck stiffness, fever, sensitivity to light, and confusion. Meningococcal septicaemia occurs when the bacteria multiply in the bloodstream, causing fever, cold extremities, rapid breathing, a characteristic non-blanching rash, and in severe cases, organ failure and limb damage. Many patients present with both simultaneously. The speed of progression is what makes meningococcal disease so feared. A person can go from feeling mildly unwell to critically ill within 3–5 hours in the most aggressive cases, though 12–24 hours is more typical. This is why every health authority emphasises the importance of calling 999 at the first suspicion. UKHSA confirmed on 21 March 2026 that the Kent outbreak strain (sequence type ST-41/44) is covered by the Bexsero vaccine, providing important reassurance that vaccination is the correct protective measure.
Symptoms: How to Recognise Meningitis
The symptoms of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can appear in any order, may develop rapidly, and some may not appear at all. In adults and teenagers, watch for a sudden, severe headache unlike a normal headache, a high temperature of 38°C or above, a stiff and painful neck (difficulty touching chin to chest), sensitivity to bright lights, nausea and vomiting, confusion or difficulty concentrating, drowsiness or difficulty waking, cold hands and feet despite a fever, rapid breathing, pale or blotchy skin, muscle and joint pain, and a rash of red or purple spots that does not fade when pressed with a glass. In babies and young children, look for a bulging fontanelle, a high-pitched or unusual cry, refusing feeds, irritability and not wanting to be held, becoming floppy or unresponsive, and pale or blotchy skin. A particular danger highlighted during the Kent outbreak is that early meningitis symptoms in young adults can be mistaken for a hangover, freshers' flu, or a stomach bug. UKHSA specifically warned that "students are particularly at risk of missing the early warning signs."
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you suspect meningitis. Do not wait for a rash. Do not wait for all symptoms to appear. Trust your instincts.
How Meningitis Is Treated
Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency requiring immediate hospital treatment. The standard approach includes empirical intravenous antibiotics (typically a third-generation cephalosporin such as ceftriaxone) started as soon as meningitis is suspected — before confirmatory test results are available, because delay costs lives. Corticosteroids (dexamethasone) are often given alongside antibiotics to reduce brain inflammation and improve outcomes. Intensive care admission for monitoring of consciousness, breathing, circulation, and potential complications. Supportive care including intravenous fluids, oxygen, and management of any seizures. Lumbar puncture and blood cultures to confirm the diagnosis and identify the specific organism, which may allow the antibiotic regimen to be refined. Treatment outcomes depend heavily on speed. Patients who receive antibiotics within hours of symptom onset have significantly better survival rates and fewer complications than those whose treatment is delayed.
Viral meningitis is managed with supportive care — rest, fluids, paracetamol or ibuprofen for headache and fever, and a quiet, dimly lit environment. Most patients recover fully within 7–14 days, though fatigue and headaches may persist for weeks. Herpes simplex meningitis requires antiviral treatment with intravenous aciclovir.
Prevention: How Vaccination Protects Against Meningitis
Vaccination has transformed the landscape of meningitis in the UK. Several vaccines in the NHS schedule protect against different causes.
MenB (Bexsero) — protects against meningococcal group B, the most common bacterial cause in the UK. Given to babies at 8, 16 weeks, and 12 months. Covers approximately 88% of UK MenB strains. Not routinely offered to teenagers or adults on the NHS.
MenACWY — protects against meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y. Given to teenagers at age 14 and available for university entrants up to age 25.
Hib vaccine — included in the 6-in-1 childhood vaccine. Has virtually eliminated Hib meningitis in the UK.
Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) — protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Given to babies at 12 and 16 weeks with a booster at 12 months.
MMR — protects against mumps, a cause of viral meningitis. The critical gap in current NHS coverage is that MenB vaccination is only provided to infants born since 2015. Virtually all teenagers, university students, and adults remain unvaccinated against the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK.
The Online GP by The Wellness offers private MenB vaccination from our Marylebone clinic — we hold a direct supplier relationship that allows us to secure stock when many providers cannot, though supply remains limited during the current national shortage and rates reflect the elevated procurement environment. Contact us to discuss availability.
MenB Vaccine Enquiries — WhatsApp →Same-Day GP Appointment — WhatsApp →Any Health Enquiry — WhatsApp → Email: team@thewellnesslondon.com
Life After Meningitis: Long-Term Effects
Surviving meningitis is not always the end of the story. Up to 20% of bacterial meningitis survivors experience lasting after-effects that can be life-altering. Hearing loss is one of the most common complications — the infection can damage the cochlear nerve, leading to partial or complete deafness. All meningitis survivors should have a hearing test as part of their recovery. Brain damage can result in cognitive difficulties, learning disabilities, memory problems, and personality changes. The severity varies enormously, from subtle difficulties to profound impairment. Limb loss occurs when meningococcal septicaemia causes such severe damage to blood vessels that tissue in the extremities dies, requiring amputation. This is one of the most devastating outcomes and is particularly associated with meningococcal disease. Kidney damage, scarring, epilepsy, and chronic fatigue are also documented long-term consequences. These are not theoretical risks. They are real outcomes experienced by real people — including young, previously healthy individuals. The 2026 Kent outbreak has resulted in multiple young people in intensive care, and the long-term outcomes for survivors will only become clear in the months and years ahead. This is why prevention through vaccination is so important. The temporary discomfort of a vaccine is incomparably small next to the potential consequences of unprotected infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is meningitis? An infection causing inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Can be bacterial (most dangerous), viral (usually less severe), or fungal (rare). Bacterial meningitis can kill within 24 hours.
What causes meningitis? Multiple organisms — most commonly Neisseria meningitidis (MenB in the UK), Streptococcus pneumoniae, enteroviruses, and others. Vaccines exist for many of the bacterial causes.
What is the difference between bacterial and viral meningitis? Bacterial is a medical emergency with 8–15% fatality. Viral is usually less severe and self-limiting. Early symptoms can be identical, so all suspected meningitis must be treated as an emergency.
How is meningitis treated? Bacterial: emergency intravenous antibiotics and intensive care. Viral: supportive care (rest, fluids, pain relief). Speed of treatment is critical for bacterial meningitis.
Can you survive meningitis? Yes — 85–92% of bacterial meningitis patients survive with treatment. But up to 20% of survivors have permanent after-effects. Early treatment dramatically improves outcomes.
Can meningitis be prevented? Yes — through vaccination (MenB, MenACWY, Hib, PCV, MMR), good hygiene, avoiding sharing drinks, and taking preventative antibiotics if offered after close contact with a case.
Who is most at risk? Babies under 1, teenagers and young adults 15–24, university students, people with immune conditions, and those in shared accommodation.
The Online GP by The Wellness provides private doctor-led healthcare from our Marylebone clinic. All services delivered by GMC-registered doctors. Contact us on WhatsApp at +44 7961 280835 or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.If you suspect meningitis, call 999 immediately.
References
UKHSA. Cases of invasive meningococcal disease confirmed in Kent. GOV.UK. Updated 21 March 2026.
UKHSA. Meningitis B outbreak: what you need to know. UKHSA blog. Updated 20 March 2026.
NHS. Meningitis — overview, causes, treatment. NHS.uk. Updated 2025.
Meningitis Research Foundation. After meningitis — long-term effects. 2026.
Meningitis Now. Types of meningitis. Updated 2026.
European Medicines Agency. Bexsero EPAR. Updated 2025.
NICE. Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s. CG102. Updated 2024.
