Over the last month, hearing about the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent where two young people have tragically lost their lives and others have been hospitalised, has brought everything back into sharp focus. My heart and thoughts go out to their family, friends and the university community.
It’s a reminder that meningitis doesn’t belong in the past. It’s still here, and it still moves frighteningly fast.
This is incredibly close to my heart. As someone who is a survivor of meningitis, I have spent years campaigning, working with colleges and universities and taking part in fundraising to help spread awareness of meningitis symptoms and available vaccination programmes.
If even one person reads this and decides to act sooner, check on a friend, or trust their instincts, then sharing this is worth it.
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When I was 17, back in 1997, I came home from college feeling unwell. It felt like the flu, nothing unusual. I had chills, aching joints and a headache that just wouldn’t shift. If you’ve ever had the flu, you’ll know the feeling.
But this headache was different. It was intense. Relentless.
Over the afternoon, things got worse. I became sick, my body stiffened, and I couldn’t stop shivering. By the evening, my parents noticed a rash on my neck and called an ambulance.
That decision saved my life.
I had contracted meningococcal septicaemia caused by MenB. What began as “just flu symptoms” on a Wednesday afternoon led to me waking up three weeks later in intensive care, after suffering two cardiac arrests.
The terrifying reality of meningitis
One of the most dangerous things about meningitis is how easily it can be mistaken for something mild. Symptoms often include:
- a high temperature (fever)
- being sick
- a headache
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck
- a dislike of bright lights
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- seizures (fits)
But not everyone gets all the symptoms and they don’t always appear in the same order.
What people don’t always realise is this - meningitis can escalate in hours, not days.
It doesn’t wait until morning. It doesn’t give you time to “see how you feel later.”
Look out for each other
This is especially important if you live with friends, in student housing, or spend a lot of time together.
If a friend:
- Seems unusually drowsy or hard to wake
- Is confused or not making sense
- Has a high temperature or is being sick
- Complains of a severe headache or sensitivity to light
Please don’t brush it off, call for medical support. Trust your instincts and do not wait for all the symptoms to appear or until a rash develops.
Call NHS 111 for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious or you think you may have been exposed to someone with meningitis.
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.
Vaccinations and awareness
Things have improved since 1997. There are now vaccination programmes in place, including protection against MenB for young children, and school programmes covering strains like A, C, W, and Y.
But not everyone is covered, especially older teenagers and young adults.
If you want clear, reliable information about symptoms, vaccinations, and what to do, please visit the websites below:
