Meningitis stories

Coby had symptoms of what appeared to be a slight cold; but he quickly deteriorated and died of meningococcal meningitis the following day

After daughter Ruby's diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, nurse Tracy has shared her tips for improving bowel health - something she is certain has helped Ruby's recovery

Sarah thought she had a migraine, but as tests showed the 26-year-old midwife had contracted meningococcal meningitis

Having recently returned home from hospital, Sammi is keen to raise awareness of bacterial meningitis and how a rash doesn't always appear

Mum Vicky couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong when baby Oscar cried like he'd never cried before, and rushed him to hospital - where he stayed for four weeks battling meningococcal meningitis

It's not the physical symptoms that Ashleigh remembers the most of in the hours before her diagnosis of bacterial MenB meningitis, but her change in behaviour

Ben contracted bacterial meningitis when he was 15. Fortunately, he received medical care quickly as his condition deteriorated and he continues to recover well

Chenise thought baby Harry was suffering from a tummy ache. But when he became unresponsive that afternoon and developed a slight rash, she quickly found herself running from an ambulance into A&E

51-year-old David, from Glasgow, had been suffering with severe earache, leading to headaches and vomiting before a lumbar puncture confirmed bacterial meningitis

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

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

Melissa and Steve's daughter Indie was born premature, and despite her feeling cold they were told not to worry. But, she rapidly deteriorated and died of Group B strep just 10 days after birth

Ann Marie, Stuart and daughters Zoe and Eilidh were on a family holiday in France when Eilidh became ill with bacterial MenW meningitis and tragically passed away, aged 8 years old