Someone who has meningitis or septicaemia could become seriously ill very quickly. People who are ill need urgent medical help and prompt treatment with antibiotics, which means that IMMEDIATE hospital admission is required.
The treatments vary depending on what type of meningitis is diagnosed.
Bacterial meningitis
If someone is diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, they will require urgent treatment - and may need to be treated in an intensive care unit (ICU).
Antibiotics will be used to treat the infection, and patients may also (depending on the severity of their condition) be given:
Depending on the severity of the case, the patient may be in hospital between one week and several months.
Viral meningitis
Mild viral meningitis can be treated at home with plenty of rest, painkillers, and anti-sickness medication for vomiting.
Severe viral meningitis, however, will require hospital admission; they may be given anti-viral medicines or intravenous fluids, to help the body recover.