Symptoms of a subarachnoid haemorrhage include:
- a sudden and severe headache - it has been described as a ‘thunderclap headache’, similar to a sudden hit on the head, resulting in a blinding pain unlike anything ever experienced before
- stiff neck
- feeling and being sick
- loss of consciousness or convulsions (uncontrollable shaking)
- stroke-like symptoms such as slurred speech and weakness on one side of the body
If you (or someone in your care) experience the symptoms above you need immediate emergency medical care. Dial 999 for an ambulance.
The symptoms of a subarachnoid haemorrhage are similar to meningitis (an infection of the layers of the brain) because in both conditions people experience a severe headache and a stiff neck.
Unlike meningitis, people with a subarachnoid haemorrhage do not usually have a high fever or skin rash. However, both conditions are extremely serious and emergency medical treatment should be sought straightaway in either case.
