A pupil at a Conwy high school has been admitted to hospital with meningitis.

Public Health Wales has written to the parents of students at Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay to inform them of the case.

They said close friends of the pupil had been given antibiotics to stop the bacteria spreading.

While the risk to other children is small, parents have been told to ensure they are aware of the potential symptoms (listed below) of meningococcal disease.

Ysgol y Creuddyn, Penrhyn Bay

Parents have been told that pupils should continue to attend school as normal.

One parent said: "Everyone's thoughts are with the pupil and their family."

Dr Brendan Mason, consultant in Communicable Disease Control at Public Health Wales, wrote: "I am writing to inform you that an individual from Ysgol y Creuddyn has been admitted to hospital with meningitis, probably caused by the meningococcal bacteria.

"No further action is necessary at the present time. There is no reason to make any change in the school routine and no reason for children to be kept at home. Meningococcal bacteria are carried in the back of the throat of about one in ten people at any one time but only very rarely cause illness.

"The bacteria do not spread easily and those who have had prolonged, close contact with the person are at a slightly greater risk of getting ill.

"These people have been identified and given antibiotics to stop the bacteria spreading."

The signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease

Glass held on child's arm covered in purple rash (glass test for meningitis), close-up

Meningitis:

  • Fever, cold hands and feet.
  • Vomiting.
  • Drowsy, difficult to wake.
  • Confusion and irritability.
  • Severe muscle pain.
  • Pale, blotchy skin. Spots/rash.
  • Severe headache.
  • Stiff neck.
  • Dislike of bright light.

Septicaemia

  • Fever.
  • Vomiting.
  • Bruising / rash
  • Rapid breathing
  • Joint / muscle pain
  • Confusion / delirium
  • Extreme sleepiness / difficulty waking

Not all these signs and symptoms may show at once, but someone with this illness will become very ill. The illness may progress over one or two days.

But it can develop very rapidly, sometimes in a matter of hours.

Diagnosing meningitis can be difficult because it often comes on quickly and can be easily mistaken for flu, as many of the symptoms are the same.

If someone becomes ill with some of these signs or symptoms, contact a Doctor urgently and ask for advice.

  • Further information regarding meningitis/ septicaemia can be found at; NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47 (24 hours) www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/