Meningitis stories

Margaret shares the heartbreaking story of her nephew Calum, who passed away aged 12 having just returned to school after a flu virus

Doctors initially thought Jade had a kidney infection when she became ill with a severe headache and aching muscles, but once in hospital she was diagnosed with viral meningitis

When Virginia's son Jamie became unwell in 1988, doctors missed the signs of meningitis. As he deteriorated, he was rushed to hospital, but tragically passed away

Parents Emily and Adam were told to expect the worst when baby George developed complications after a diagnosis of viral meningitis

Mum Beverley was identified as Strep B positive while pregnant, but a few weeks after baby Asher was born he started showing signs of Group B Strep meningitis

Hours after Liam had first complained of a sore throat and light sensitivity, he needed to be placed in an induced coma as he battled meningococcal meningitis

Hazel was only a few weeks old when she was diagnosed with Group B Strep. Now 25, she has had a number of brain surgeries to alleviate pressure on her brain

Tests revealed that Jamielee's baby boy Leon was suffering from meningococcal type Y, which has left him with complex after-effects; but she is so glad that she was able to bring him home

Miranda struggled to access medical help that she desperately needed when she became ill in August this year. She has now been left with severe after-effects of meningococcal meningitis

Clair contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia and life was never to be the same again

Neil was on holiday when he started acting out of character, and within days he had developed severe headaches, light sensitivity, anxiety and confusion

Now in her teens, Eleanor discovered that she had suffered with viral meningitis when she was hospitalised as a baby. But she is determined that her after-effects won't hold her back

After watching her oldest son battle meningitis, Holly couldn't believe that history was repeating itself two years later when baby Jasper became ill

Now 15, Luke was 8 weeks old when he contracted meningococcal septicaemia, resulting in him losing the digits on his left hand

Against the odds, Susan pulled through her bacterial meningitis experience, but it has left her with a number of after-effects including the partial loss of two fingers

When Nikki was discharged from hospital after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, she hadn't realised she would continue to feel unwell

Suman was suffering with constant headaches, until one day he began vomiting violently. Two lumbar punctures later, it was confirmed that he had meningococcal meningitis

Five weeks after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, Kristof is struggling with after-effects such as fatigue and pressure in his head

Aaron had what he thought was the flu, but as his symptoms worsened he made his way to hospital. Now, with the after-effects of viral meningitis, he is adapting to a new way of life

Mum Arlene could only watch in horror as a purple rash spread over 5-year-old Leon's body as he battled MenB and septicaemia