Children often have niggly symptoms, but could you tell these apart from the early warning signs of meningitis?If you're not sure, focus on knowing the Red Flag symptoms, which all begin with a P.These tend to occur five to eight hours before

; } Is your child protected against all types of meningitis? Do you think the key meningitis symptom is a rash? If you answered yes to either question, you do not know as much about this disease as you thought.Meningitis is every parent’s worst nightmare

What is meningitis?Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord commonly caused by viruses and bacteria. Bacteria usually live harmlessly in the back of the throat. Most of us will carry them

of potentially life-threatening diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough (pertussis) and meningitis C.Your GP will let you know when your baby's jabs are due. If your baby is unwell on the day of the vaccination

diseases like diptheria, whooping cough, polio and meningitis C, that if caught could kill or cause lasting damage to your child. Vaccinations help your child's natural defence system fight off these diseases if they come into contact with them.Q When

for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, Hib, pneumococcal infection.3 months: Second dose for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib, first dose for meningitis C.4 months: Third dose for diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib; second

hygiene. It causes no symptoms and doesn't need treatment. The problem with GBS is that it can pass to the baby during labour and cause pneumonia or, in serious cases, meningitis. The chance of the baby picking up an infection is about 1 in 500

, around 75 babies die every year from GBS or complications of it, such as meningitis, pneumonia and septicaemia (blood poisoning). A further 40 suffer long-term problems, from mild learning disabilities to severe mental problems, blindness and deafness

’s head to change shape and squeeze through the birth canal, and won’t close up until well after his first birthday. If your baby’s fontanelle is sunken it may be a sign of dehydration; a bulging fontanelle can be a symptom of meningitis. In either case

has a rash that doesn't fade when a glass is pressed against it. This could be meningitis and needs urgent treatment. For family travel advice visit www.family-travel.co.uk . To contact Lucinda Miller visit www.naturedoc.co.uk.