Baby
Meningitis Rash & the Glass Test: When to Call 999
By Emma Whitfield · Pregnancy & Baby Writer
The glass test is the one first-aid skill every UK parent should be able to do half-asleep. It does not diagnose meningitis on its own — it tells you when to stop waiting.
How do you do the glass test?
- Use a clear glass.
- Press the side firmly against the rash.
- If the spots still show through the glass (do not fade), call 999.
That is a non-blanching rash. Meningitis Research Foundation and NHS both treat this as emergency territory when a child is unwell.
What does a meningitis-type rash look like?
Pinprick red, purple or brownish spots or bruise-like blotches. It can appear late. On brown or black skin it is easier to miss — check palms, soles, eyelids and the roof of the mouth.
Should you wait for a rash before calling 999?
No. NHS immediate-action fever red flags include stiff neck, dislike of bright light, a first seizure, cold hands/feet, colour change, drowsiness, extreme agitation/confusion, or breathing difficulty — with or without a rash. Pair this page with when to take a baby with a fever to A&E.
If you are logging temperatures while you wait for advice, use a digital armpit thermometer — forehead strips alone are not enough.
What should you do while waiting for help?
- Call 999 and follow dispatcher instructions
- Note the time symptoms started
- Do not give aspirin under 16
- Stay with your child
What do UK parents actually say about this?
Parents who have called 999 for a non-blanching scare almost always say the same thing afterwards: they would rather feel foolish in A&E than wait for a “proper” textbook rash. The glass test ends the debate in the kitchen.
Who should skip “monitor overnight”?
Skip overnight watching if the rash does not fade, or if fever comes with neck stiffness, photophobia, seizure, colour change or unresponsiveness. Those are not next-GP-day problems.
What we’d change: viral graphics that show only bright-red spots on pale skin — teach parents to check paler sites on deeper skin tones.
What questions come up most?
What if the rash fades under the glass?
A fading rash is less concerning for meningococcal septicaemia, but an unwell child with fever still needs advice — call 111 or your GP the same day. Re-check the rash; it can change.
Can meningitis happen without a rash?
Yes. A rash can appear late or not at all. Act on breathing, alertness, neck stiffness, seizures and colour change even if the skin looks clear.
Sources & further reading
- High temperature (fever) in children — NHS
- Meningitis symptoms — NHS
- Glass test — Meningitis Research Foundation
Keep reading
When to Take a Baby with a Fever to A&E (UK)
NHS-aligned UK guide to baby fever: exact °C thresholds by age, when to call 999 or 111, safe home care, and red flags that mean skip the wait.
Colds, Fevers and Childhood Bugs: What’s Normal and When to Worry
A calm guide to common baby and childhood illnesses — building immunity, endless colds, fever thresholds, the glass test, and when to use NHS 111 vs 999.
Febrile Seizure First Aid: What UK Parents Should Do
NHS first aid for febrile seizures in babies and children — timing the fit, recovery position, when to call 999, and what not to do.