Deadly meningitis has ‘classic triad’ of symptoms – do you know them all?

CHILDREN and adults with meningitis usually only have one of the “classic triad” of symptoms, a study shows.

Researchers found most patients only suffer one of a fever, an altered mental state or neck stiffness — despite all three being associated with the deadly infection.

Most worryingly, one in seven do not have any of the three signs, which could delay their diagnosis, researchers said.

Dr Nichlas Hovmand, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, said doctors should be aware that any of the symptoms could mean a patient is infected.

He said: “Which symptoms are relevant will vary from case to case as sometimes a few symptoms could be enough to confirm the suspicion of meningitis.

“In cases of doubt, further questioning could help to differentiate between meningitis and other suspected diagnoses, which would most often be other infections or stroke.

“We suggest that all patients with fever and/or an altered mentally state should be asked for specifically related symptoms such as neck stiffness, leg pain, headache and rashes. 

“However, it is very important to keep in mind that most patients with bacterial meningitis will not present with all the specific symptoms — especially in the early stages of the disease.”

Around 8,000 people a year were diagnosed with meningitis before the Covid pandemic, although numbers reduced in 2020 and 2021 because of social distancing.

The infection affects the tissue around the brain and spinal cord, and can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection that is spread by coughing, sneezing or kissing.

After rock legend Jeff Beck, 78, died of the infection in January, health officials warned of soaring cases in Britain, with numbers doubling last year after restrictions were lifted.

The latest study will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen in April.

Researchers looked at medical records of 171 adults and 38 children diagnosed with meningitis from January 2016 to December 2021.

Some 58 per cent had an altered mental state and 57 per cent had a fever.

But just nine per cent overall suffered with neck stiffness, which was more prominent in the children (18 per cent).

At least one symptom was suffered by 85 per cent of the patients, but only three per cent had all three.