National Collaborating Centre for Women's and Children's Health

Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicemia: management in children and young people under 16 years in primary and secondary care

Children younger than 9 years are the most at risk of contracting bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia. The age based incidence of meningococcal disease and bacterial meningitis were 31.3 and 4.8 per 100,000 in the age groups 0-4 and 5-9 years respectively inEngland and Wales in the year 2005. Meningococcal disease is the most common infectious cause of death in children aged between 1 and 5 years.

Groups that will be covered:

All children and young people from birth up to their 16th birthday who have or are suspected to have bacterial meningitis or meningococcal septicemia.

This guideline will cover the diagnosis, management in primary and secondary care, retrieval and transfer to secondary and tertiary care, and information needs of patients.

For more information on the Meningitis guideline, please visit the NICE website.

For general enquiries about this guideline please email: enquiries@ncc-wch.org.uk

Page updated 27 August 2008