Meningitis in adults

Hi Lesley, thanks for your post. It’s very true that whilst the age group most at risk from meningitis and septicaemia are babies, followed by teenagers, adults can also get the disease. There are twice as many cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in people under the age of 25, as there are in the over 25s, and that’s why you tend to hear about it more in young people and children. However, although the disease is rarer in adults, when it does strike it tends to be more severe. We have run campaigns in the past highlighting the disease in adults, and we also produce specific adult protocols as well as child protocols for hospital doctors treating meningitis.

Paste this link into your browser for symptoms information:
http://www.meningitis.org/symptoms/young-people

It’s important to remember that a rash is usually only found in meningococcal disease. Other types of meningitis and septicaemia can occur without a rash, so the absence of a rash doesn’t rule out meningitis or septicaemia in a person with other symptoms above. The early symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses like ‘flu, so tell someone if you’re feeling ill, or keep an eye on an ill friend or family member. Contact us if you would like copies of ‘Get It Sussed’ (aimed at teenagers and young adults), ‘Race Against Time’ or symptoms cards (both for all ages) that you can keep in your wallet.

 

Claire Knight.

Medical Information Officer - MRF.

 

Hi I caught meningitis @ the age of 59 when on holiday I like others was amazed when Iwas told that I had meningococcal B type. my grandson had the disease afew years earlier @ 6 weeks old and I thought that it was a child's disease. I also had a cousin died of it when was18 months old in 1938. in my casemy neck was locked solid and my head hurt. the Dr. thought I had had a stroke.

Hi
My wife Barbara died aged 55 from Meningitis with Septicaemia just 2 days before Christmas 2007.
We both thought she had flu. She had no headache or rash. She died just 2 hours after being admitted to hospital some 36 hours after feeling unwell. This disease is so dangerous in that it can appear to be similar to flu and the speed that it can progress is awesome. With hindsight I now recognise that other symptoms she had at various points during her last hours where an indication of Meningitis and Septicaemia. These were a period of rapid breathing, rather dopey and very tired, a high temperature initially but cold on the second night and Diarrhea. Much later large bruise like marks appeared on her legs (not a rash though).
The shock of her death was immense. Both my children and I miss her.
It's such a dangerous disease and it is so important that people are aware of the possible symptoms. Keep on with your good work MRF.

David Hollobon

I had meningococcal septicaemia in Jan 2008 at age of 42 and had a horrifuc experince which left me with post traumatic stress.Despite dispalying almost every sign of the disease and being rushed to hospital by ambulance I was seen by one very young,nusupervised dr and told I had flu and would be much comfier at home!Despte my protests and worsening symptoms I was left alone and unmonitored for 3 hrs with no buzzer to call for attention.y hubbie had to drive me 25miles home and drag me to bed.My last memory was of desperately trying to phone my husband on mobile as he was sleeping downsatirs but not being able to see.I woke up 7 days laterinITU having been on life support.Thankfully I had fitted and fallen out of bed thius alerting my husband
He had had flu so it was assumed I had the same and I do wonder if Id not mentioned this if Id been observed and not sent home.

We could have sued as I have suffered loss of balance and cant even stand up so am on crutches and wheelchair but deciede to take to Scottish Public Servisce Ombudsman who fully upheld my complaints about hospital misdiagnosis and malpractice and have orded various changes wich will help every patient who passes through casualty and also healp alert medical staff as to the difficulties of diagnosis.

Everything above is so true, I had bacterial meninigitis 4 years ago aged 46. I had no rash, and had gone to bed with cold symptons and an earache and woke up a week later in intensive care. My life saved my husband who had found me collapsed and incoheherent. Thank goodness it happened at night when he was home, as probably his speed in calling the doctorswho then sped me to hospital 25 minutes away, saved my life. Lets remember the trauma and stress our families our put through whilst loved ones are fighting this frightening illness.

I was lucky enough to survive meningitis and septicaemia when I was 54 (5 years ago). The paramedics thought I was having a panic attack, the medical staff thought I was having a heart attack. It's so vital to be aware that this dreadful disease CAN affect older people. I feel there should be regular awareness campaigns for older people - I think most of us are, by now, aware of the signs of meningitis in young people and babies, but how many adults would tragically put their symptoms down to a bad case of flu??

I was not very aware of the after affects of meningitis. I had it last year and remember being so surprised when I was told what I had in hospital.I remember over hearing a conversation in High Dependency about another patient who would be having his leg amputated. I felt so terribly sad for him, not realising that could have happened to me. I always used tocheck the children if they had a rash when they were young but did not think it would happen to me!

Hi

My husband Jon died at the aged of 38 from Meningitis. He went to bed with tonsilitis and woke me at 4.30am being sick and falling over. I rang an ambulance and he was taken to hospital however they could do nothing and his life support machine was turned off at 9.38 am on 26th July 2006. I still cannot believe that a healthy adult could be struck down so quickly and die so suddenly. It was 2 weeks after our daughter's first birthday and the day after he died I found out I was pregnant with our 2nd daughter. He had everything to live for and not only did I lose a wonderful husband but my children will never know or remember their father. Whenever I tell someone what he died of they are so shocked as they expect this disease to only affect babies and students.

Hi Wendy
Thanks so much for sharing a little of your story, and we are so pleased to hear that your daughter is making a steady recovery. If anyone has experience of these diseases and would like to talk about it then please don't hesitate to contact the Freefone 24hr helpline on 080 8800 3344

I agree we need more awareness about the symptoms in adults. My 17 year old daughter is recovering from Meningococcal disease. We were lucky to have caught this eary but she still spent time in ICU on a ventilator but some of the symptoms she had I was totally unaware of.