Meningitis stories

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

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

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

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

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

Laura still suffers from debilitating migraines a year after contracting viral meningitis, but she is taking recovery one day at a time

Ayesha was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis when she was 17. She has been left with a number of after-effects. Despite this she is not letting it stop her achieving her goals.

10 minutes after leaving hospital with a diagnosis of cluster headaches, Thomas had a seizure caused by what turned out to be bacterial meningitis

Two years ago, Gemma was diagnosed with viral meningitis after flu-like symptoms became more severe. Read her story

After spending five days in a coma, Lindsey has been left with no hearing in her left ear after contracting meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia

Kevin contracted viral meningitis as a child, but wasn't treated until damage to his optic nerve had been done. He now co-hosts a podcast encouraging men to talk about their struggles in life

Joanne was 29 when she contracted meningitis in 2009; now, with coping techniques and medication, she is able to manage her after-effects

Cat was in her first year at uni when she was struck down by viral meningitis. Four years on, with support from Meningitis Now, she is learning to manage her after-effects

Roisin never thought for a second that she would have to make the heart-breaking decision to turn off her daughter's life support after she contracted Group B strep