Chloe Goodman is no stranger to tough situations. As a model and reality TV star from MTV UK’s Ex on the Beach, Chloe has certainly found herself in stressful environments. But nothing has been as stressful or scary as her recent experience with her newborn son. According to The Mirror, Chloe welcomed her second child last month; his father is Chloe’s fiance, footballer Grant Hall. But recently, Chloe had to take her newborn to the hospital after his body broke out in a red, spotty rash. At the same time, her son also experienced a high fever. When she took him to the hospital, the doctors suspected that Chloe’s son had meningitis.

At the hospital, Chloe learned more about the “glass test,” a way that people can identify suspected meningitis and determine whether someone’s condition is a medical emergency. To perform the glass test, you first press a clear glass firmly against the skin where the rash is located. The spots or rash may fade. If so, this is not a medical emergency. However, if the spots do not fade and the person is also running a fever, it is a medical emergency. Learn more about the glass test.

At first, Chloe said, the spots did fade. But the hospital explained that in meningitis, the rash may fade at first, but will not once the meningitis infection becomes more severe.

Currently, Chloe is waiting in the hospital to learn more about her son’s condition. They are waiting for a definitive diagnosis. In the interim, they are treating her son for meningitis and septicemia to ensure that they do not have to wait. Until then, Chloe will be spending time with her family and doing her best to bring her son home safely.

About Meningitis

Meningitis refers to inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord. There are multiple subtypes of meningitis, including bacterial, fungal, viral, amebic, and parasitic. Viral meningitis, though serious, is often considered less severe than the bacterial form. The bacterial form, which includes meningococcal meningitis, can be life-threatening or fatal if not treated. Meningitis can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. However, it most often affects those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may develop over a period of hours or days. In infants, symptoms include:

• High fever
• Poor feeding
• Vomiting
• Excessive sleepiness or irritability
• Constant crying that is difficult to comfort or stop
• Body and neck stiffness
• Inactivity or sluggishness
• A bulge in the baby’s fontanel

For those ages 2+, symptoms include:

• Stiff neck
• Sudden-onset high fever
• Skin rash
• Appetite and thirst loss
• Severe and abnormal headache
• Light sensitivity
• Excessive sleepiness and/or difficulty waking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion and/or difficulty concentrating
• Seizures

If you or someone you love has suspected meningitis, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.