A Student's Meningitis Story | Meningitis Now

Meningitis in Students - what you need to know. The second most at risk age group for contracting meningitis are 15-24 year olds. Tom's story proves how quickly meningitis can strike, how important it is to know the signs and symptoms and what emergency action to take.

For the signs and symptoms of meningitis - https://www.meningitisnow.org/signs

NOTE: The information on the MenC vaccine is now out of date. There is a new vaccine available to young people called the MenACWY vaccine. This vaccine provides protection against four strains of meningococcal disease - A, C, W and Y.
Find out more information about the MenACWY vaccine - https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningi...

----
Meningitis can strike quickly and kill within hours. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms and seek urgent medical help if concerned.

Meningitis facts for young people -
One in four 15 – 19 year olds carry meningococcal bacteria that can cause meningitis in the back of their throats, compared to one in ten of the UK population.
You can be a carrier without becoming ill and in most cases it will help boost your natural immunity. In an age group where more people are carrying the bacteria, there will be more disease.
Meningococcal bacteria are passed from person to person by coughing, sneezing and intimate kissing. Increased social interaction in this age group means that the bacteria can be passed on more easily.

Why are first year university students at risk?
Students can be more vulnerable to meningitis because of living in cramped housing, or halls of residence. In many cases, young people come together from all over the world to live in one place and can be exposed to bacteria and viruses their bodies have not met before. This is why so many new students get ‘fresher’s flu’.
As the early symptoms of meningitis can disguise themselves as other things, such as common illnesses like flu, or maybe a hangover, it’s easy to mistake meningitis for something else.
When students go off to university, it is often the first time they are living away from their parents and, more often than not, their own health and well being is not a priority. With no parents to keep an eye on their health, meningitis can get missed.
----
Learn the signs and symptoms and order free symptoms cards at www.meningitisnow.org

Download our free meningitis symptoms app for Apple or Android at www.MeningitisApp.co.uk

If you have any questions, you can call our helpline free on 0808 80 10 388 (UK) or email [email protected]

Stay up to date with Meningitis Now awareness, research and support on Facebook:

  / meningitisnow  

Follow Meningitis Now on Twitter and Instagram:

  / meningitisnow  

  / meningitis_now  

For more information and support contacts visit our site - https://www.meningitisnow.org