“Because it was viral meningitis, everybody was like ‘oh you’re fine, aren’t you?’ – but you don’t feel fine.”
As many of our supporters will know, viral meningitis can often lead to long-term debilitating after-effects.
At Meningitis Now, we feel that viral meningitis often gets less attention than bacterial and, according to recent research, lots of you feel the same way!
Meningitis and Me* was an opportunity to hear directly about people’s experiences of living with the after-effects of viral meningitis. People told us that they experience memory loss, exhaustion, headaches, anxiety, depression, dizziness/balance problems and hearing difficulties. These after-effects can lead to time off education or work, and a daily struggle with tasks that so many people take for granted.
We used the information people generously shared with us to inform our strategy for the next five years – Vision 2020, so that together we can continue to fight viral just as much as bacterial meningitis.
So, what are we doing at Meningitis Now to be “vocal about viral”?
We will:
- Continue to raise awareness about viral meningitis, so people know what to look for, when to get help and what to expect afterwards
- Continue to provide support, including access to complementary therapies.
- Provide e-learning materials for pharmacists (available early summer) to support them to be better informed and able to answer questions
- Encourage health care professionals to carry out important follow-up appointments for people who have had viral meningitis
- Develop and support further research into the causes and effects of viral meningitis
Remember, no-one has to deal with the impact of viral meningitis on their own.
Call our helpline on 0808 80 10 388. Email: helpline@meningitisnow.org.
Read more about viral meningitis here.
*The Meningitis and Me research project was commissioned by Meningitis Now and delivered in partnership with Alterline, an independent research agency.
