Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSMeningitis symptoms could be mistaken for swine flu, warns charity
A charity is warning that people should not mistake the early symptoms of meningitis for swine flu, and risk delaying diagnosis of the serious brain disease.
The Meningitis Trust has warned the public that many symptoms of meningitis could be interpreted as swine flu.
A rash, which often appears with meningitis, is not always present when someone contracts the disease.
A spokeswoman for the trust said: ‘While they can both start out with common flu-like symptoms, differentiating them can be potentially life-saving as meningitis can strike in minutes and kill within hours. Rapid deterioration will take hold if left untreated.’
The charity operates a nurse-led hotline that is open 24 hours a day, and provides a free credit card-sized symptoms card.
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