Meningitis is difficult to diagnose because it usually comes on suddenly and can be easily confused with the flu. Many of their symptoms are the same (see Meningitis - symptoms).
Seek medical attention
If you notice any of the symptoms of meningitis, particularly in a young child, seek medical help immediately.
This may mean going to the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your local hospital in the middle of the night. Do not wait for the purple rash to appear because not everyone gets a rash. Always treat a suspected case of meningitis seriously until doctors have confirmed the diagnosis.
If you are not sure if it is meningitis, you can get more information by:
Confirming the diagnosis
In cases of suspected meningitis, treatment will usually begin before the diagnosis has been confirmed. This is because some of the tests can take several hours to complete and it could be dangerous to delay treatment for that amount of time.
The doctors will carry out a physical examination to look for signs of meningitis or septicaemia (blood poisoning), such as a rash. They will also carry out tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnostic tests for meningitis include:
- a blood test – to check for the presence of bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis
- a lumbar puncture – where a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is taken from the base of the spine and checked for the presence of bacteria or viruses
A lumbar puncture will need to be delayed if there are signs of increased pressure on the brain. This is because removing some of the CSF could increase in pressure even more.
