Meningitis is a serious illness. How can you tell if it's 'just a cold' or something more serious? Raisingkids.co.uk's medical expert, Dr Malcolm McKenzie, describes the symptoms to watch out for.

Raisingkids member's problem
With so many cases of meningitis in the news, can you tell me what exactly are the symptoms of the disease?

Dr McKenzie's advice
If you suspect your child has meningitis, you should consult a doctor immediately.

The following information may help awareness of the symptoms of this disease.

In babies, watch out for severe sleepiness or staring into space, and extreme irratibility when being picked up with a high-pitched cry. Also be wary of both the displaying of a stiff body with jerky movement or your child being floppy and lifeless. Other symptoms are coldness of hands and feet, shivering, a high temperature, vomiting or a refusal to eat, diarrhoea and breathing difficulties. Be alert for a non-blanching rash or marks and bruises anywhere on the body. Alternatively, the baby's skin may go blotchy and get paler, or turn blue.

Additional symptoms found in older children can include a stiffness of the neck, headaches and a dislike of bright lights. They might also have a fever, be vomiting and confused, be very sleepy or even lose consciousness. Other signs include pains in the limbs or stomach, and difficulty walking or standing.

The 'Tumbler Test' is often recommended to parents worried about a child's rash. If a tumbler is rolled firmly over the rash and it doesn't disappear with the pressure of the glass, then get medical attention without delay. This could be a symptom of septicaemia.

Early warning signs that your child may be developing meningitis are severe leg pain which prevents the child standing or walking, cold hands or feet - when the child is running a temperature and very pale, blue or dusky skin around the lips.

Meningitis is comparatively rare. 1 in 10 of us at any time carry the baacteria that can cause the disease and it is usually harmless. One of the difficulties in diagnosing meningitis, particularly in small children, is that the symptoms are very similar to those of many other ailments. However, remember that not everyone gets all these symptoms, and they can also occur in any order.

So, if your child displays any of the above symptoms, you should seek immediate medical advice.