Meningitis risk rises during the colder months, and that’s worrying for parents because its early symptoms can look a lot like a common flu or cold. Knowing what sets meningitis apart — and trusting your instincts if something feels wrong — can make all the difference.
Here’s what to look out for.
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What Is Meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can affect anyone, at any age, and can become serious very quickly.
The most serious forms of meningitis can be reduced when people know the symptoms and act quickly, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to learn the signs below.
Flu or Meningitis: Knowing the Signs
As families spend more time indoors together over winter, germs spread more easily. Coming down with a cold or flu can also leave you feeling run down generally, which is part of why it’s worth staying alert during this season in particular.
Common Flu Symptoms
Most parents will recognise these:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Vomiting and diarrhoea, which is more common in children than adults
Symptoms That Point More Towards Meningitis
Early meningitis symptoms — headache, fever, vomiting, muscle pain — can look flu-like at first, but someone with meningitis or septicaemia can deteriorate very quickly. Keep checking on them, and watch for:
- Fever with cold hands and feet
- Stiff neck
- Dislike of bright lights
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- A rash that doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it
In Babies
Babies can’t tell you how they feel, so watch for:
- Being irritable
- Refusing to feed
- High-pitched crying
- Rapid breathing
- Cold hands and feet
- A bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on top of the head)
Important: These symptoms don’t always appear in the same order, and some may not appear at all. If you suspect meningitis, don’t wait for every symptom to show up — trust your instincts and seek medical help immediately.
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ACT for Meningitis
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Following the death of their four-year-old daughter Aoibhe, Siobhan and Noel Carroll set up ACT for Meningitis in her memory.
ACT stands for the Aoibhe Carroll Trust, and also for the three key messages Siobhan and Noel want every parent to remember:
- A: Ask yourself, could it be meningitis?
- C: Contact your doctor
- T: Trust your instincts
For more information and current guidance, visit www.actformeningitis.ie, or speak to your GP about vaccination options available in Ireland.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell the difference between flu and meningitis?
Early symptoms often overlap — fever, headache, tiredness and muscle aches can appear with both. Meningitis is more likely if you also see cold hands and feet, a stiff neck, dislike of bright light, drowsiness, confusion, or a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure. Someone with meningitis can also go downhill much faster than someone with flu.
My child has flu-like symptoms — when should I worry it might be meningitis?
If symptoms are getting rapidly worse, or your child seems unusually drowsy, confused, or develops a non-fading rash, stiff neck, or sensitivity to light, seek medical help straight away rather than waiting to see how things develop.
Can babies show different signs of meningitis?
Yes. In babies, watch for irritability, refusing feeds, high-pitched crying, rapid breathing, cold hands and feet, or a bulging fontanelle. Babies can’t tell you what’s wrong, so any combination of these is worth getting checked promptly.
Is there a vaccine for meningitis?
Vaccination options and recommended schedules can change, so it’s best to check with your GP or the HSE for current advice on what’s available and recommended for your child.
Related Articles
- Why You Need to Know the Symptoms of Meningitis
- Back to School and College: Time to Be Meningitis Aware
- 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Help Keep Back to School Germs at Bay
- 12 Tips for Soothing Family Colds and Coughs This Winter
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