Meningitis stories

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

What started as a common cold for Kieran quickly became something much more serious - pneumococcal meningitis. Although the initial illness has passed, Kieran and his family have been left fighting a seemingly never-ending battle with after-effects

Dexter - shown here with cousin Maisie and sister Tilly - had lost a lot of weight in the three weeks since his birth. A random urine sample showed he was suffering from E. coli bacterial meningitis

Premature baby Hannah was nine days old when she contracted bacterial meningitis, leaving her with developmental delays and visual impairments

After undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, Colin has been left with a complication that has resulted in him contracting bacterial pneumococcal meningitis once, and viral meningitis five times

Aged 41, Natalia suffered a stroke caused by bacterial pneumococcal meningitis, which left her with after-effects for over a year

Connie was originally diagnosed with a viral infection, as despite her symptoms of meningitis she had no rash. At mum Michelle's insistence, further tests revealed she was suffering from bacterial meningitis

It took Peter two visits to A&E before he was admitted to hospital with bacterial meningitis - by which time he was slurring his words, couldn't keep food or medicine down and was displaying multiple symptoms

Demi, from County Tyrone, was worried about her baby Harley's temperature and agitation. Her GP initially told her to keep an eye on him, but doctors at A&E instantly recognised symptoms of meningitis

Since being hospitalised with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, Sam is keen to highlight the support available for anyone else who has been affected by the disease

As Kim recovered from bacterial meningitis in 1997 she could only watch as she lost her toes, one by one. In 2008 something clicked and she found herself able to return to the sport she loved the most - running

Instead of celebrating her 30th birthday, Ipek was hospitalised with an initial diagnosis of viral meningitis. Days later though, as her condition deteriorated, it was discovered that she was suffering with the bacterial form of the disease

Karen, from Wales, is keen to raise awareness of Mollaret's meningitis - a rare, recurring form of viral meningitis - having had the disease seven times since 2008

As baby Connor was being treated for viral meningitis, mum Claire was told that if she hadn't brought him to hospital when she did then things would have been a lot worse

Baby Charlie was irritable, unsettled and screaming when he was picked up. A series of tests later it was confirmed that Charlie had contracted viral meningitis

Louisa was 23 when she was struck with a series of catastrophic illnesses, including streptococcal meningitis, leaving her with acquired brain injury

Meningitis left Lucy with an acquired brain injury, completely wiping her memory. She was unable to remember her name or anything about herself, how to speak, eat or dress

When India became unwell while on holiday at 17 years old, meningitis was initially ruled out despite the tell-tale rash on her arms