Understanding meningitis: the basics

As an Ambassador for Meningitis Research Foundation, your main role is to share your own experience so that others can truly understand the impact of this disease.

While you won’t ever be asked to go into detailed medical explanations – we always encourage you to focus on your personal story – having a basic understanding of meningitis can give you more confidence when you’re talking to people about it.

Please read through the pages provided below and share these resources with anyone you speak to during your outreach.

Your go-to pages for meningitis information

About meningitis

This page explains what meningitis is, what can cause it and the symptoms to look out for. You’ll also find out about treatment, recovery and how to protect yourself.

What is bacterial meningitis?

An overview of bacterial meningitis including symptoms, how you can get it, treatment, possible after-effects, follow-up care and prevention.

What is viral meningitis?

All about viral meningitis including symptoms, how you can get it, treatment, possible after-effects and prevention.

Am I at risk from meningitis?

Explains what puts people at higher risk of catching meningitis, covering factors such as age and where you live.

Meningitis and sepsis symptoms

A guide to the signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis, also discussing the rash and tumbler test in more detail.

Meningitis after-effects

An overview of meningitis after-effects across different ages, explaining recovery, long-term effects and follow-up care.

What vaccines are there for meningitis?

Information on what vaccines are available, how they work, who can get them and when, safety information and why they’re so important.

Did you know?

Whenever we update a page, medical experts and Ambassadors look it over to make sure it’s correct and easy for everyone to read.