Severe brain damage following meningitis is not common and is usually obvious within a few days of becoming ill. The level of damage to the brain may not be clear early on and it may take some time for health professionals and families to understand the full implications.

Epilepsy (seizures) can happen in a small number of people. It is not always immediately obvious and, occasionally, children and adults who have recovered from meningitis go on to develop epilepsy which needs long-term medication and assessment.

For further information call our 24-hour freephone nurse-led helpline on
(UK) 0800 028 18 28 or (Ireland) 1800 523 196.