After-effects of meningitis

For those who survive meningitis, after-effects will vary. Although many people will make a good recovery, others will be left with disabling after-effects. Regardless of the outcome, the impact of the disease is huge, changing lives forever

Acquired brain injury

Meningitis can cause an injury to the brain that has happened after birth
Learning and behavioural changes

Learning difficulties and behavioural problems can happen after meningitis, especially in babies and young children
Hearing loss

Hearing loss is the most common after-effect of meningitis and can range from mild hearing loss through to profound deafness
Emotional changes

Meningitis can be extremely traumatic and the emotional impact on individuals and families can be huge, whatever the outcome
Sight problems

Meningitis can damage the nerve responsible for sight (the optic nerve), resulting in partial loss of vision, or blindness