A parent's guide to ... meningitis

Q: What is meningitis? Meningitis is the swelling of the meninges, which are the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It is a very dangerous disease which can kill in hours. Every day in the UK, nine people become ill with meningitis, six die every week and a further 15 recover with permanent after-effects, such as brain damage, deafness and amputations. Meningitis can be caused by bacteria (such as streptococcus, pneumococcus, or meningococcus) which usually live harmlessly in the mouth and throat, or viruses (such as herpes simplex). Bacterial meningitis is life-threatening,...