guidelines

meningitis (bacterial) & meningococcal disease: recognition, diagnosis & management (nice ng240)

a high-stakes recognition and escalation summary for primary care/urgent care: red flags in adults and children, immediate actions, antibiotics-before-arrival considerations, and follow-up principles based on nice ng240.

last reviewed: 2026-02-13
based on: NICE NG240 (published 19 Mar 2024; replaces CG102)

Safety net / public health

Frequently asked questions

Does NG240 include adults and children?
Yes — NG240 covers babies, children, young people, and adults for bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease.
Can meningococcal disease occur without a rash?
Yes. Absence of rash does not exclude meningococcal disease; assess the whole clinical picture and escalate if concerned.

Transparency

This page is an educational, clinician-written summary of publicly available NICE guidance intended for trained healthcare professionals. It uses original wording (not copied text) and should be used alongside the full NICE source, local pathways, and clinical judgement. Doses provided are for general reference; always check the BNF/SPC.