Meningitis stories

Diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia as a baby, Leo has been left with learning difficulties, and still faces further operations on his legs 17 years later

Ben was a drama student when he became ill with what he thought was the start of a nasty cold. He quickly deteriorated, and woke up in hospital with a diagnosis of bacterial meningococcal meningitis

Coby had symptoms of what appeared to be a slight cold; but he quickly deteriorated and died of meningococcal meningitis the following day

After daughter Ruby's diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, nurse Tracy has shared her tips for improving bowel health - something she is certain has helped Ruby's recovery

Sarah thought she had a migraine, but as tests showed the 26-year-old midwife had contracted meningococcal meningitis

Now 39, Stacey was diagnosed with viral meningitis at 18 after her mum rushed her to A&E with a severe headache, sickness and aching all over her body

Kerri has had viral meningitis three times now, and is learning to live with the after-effects - both on her and her family

Ashley fell ill with viral meningitis about a year ago - a time that left her feeling incredibly alone as doctors weren't able to give her much information about what was happening to her

After viral meningitis left her housebound and dependent on a wheelchair, Kiri is keen for more resources to go into understanding and treating post-viral after-effects

Having recently returned home from hospital, Sammi is keen to raise awareness of bacterial meningitis and how a rash doesn't always appear

Mum Vicky couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong when baby Oscar cried like he'd never cried before, and rushed him to hospital - where he stayed for four weeks battling meningococcal meningitis

24 year-old Charlotte still suffers with after-effects of exhaustion nearly a year after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, which caused her to feel the most ill that she'd ever felt

It's not the physical symptoms that Ashleigh remembers the most of in the hours before her diagnosis of bacterial MenB meningitis, but her change in behaviour

With support from Believe & Achieve, Rachel has a renewed sense of determination and confidence, after struggling with long-term after-effects of viral meningitis since 2017

Ben contracted bacterial meningitis when he was 15. Fortunately, he received medical care quickly as his condition deteriorated and he continues to recover well

Chenise thought baby Harry was suffering from a tummy ache. But when he became unresponsive that afternoon and developed a slight rash, she quickly found herself running from an ambulance into A&E

51-year-old David, from Glasgow, had been suffering with severe earache, leading to headaches and vomiting before a lumbar puncture confirmed bacterial meningitis

Once the figurehead of the family, Simon now lives with life-changing after-effects of bacterial meningitis - including severe memory loss, mobility issues and hearing loss

Suzi had heard of meningitis - but hadn't realised that there was a viral form of the disease, until baby daughter Harriet was diagnosed at 11 weeks old

Student Will was in the middle of taking his A-Levels when he began feeling unwell. As his symptoms worsened, his dad took him to hospital where he was diagnosed with viral meningitis