If only there was some proven and safe method to prevent this!
nocreative on
I’ve had viral meningitis. To parents: if you’d prefer to not hear your kids say “i wish i was dead” and mean it. Get them the vaccine. Its a blur now but i know what i said at the time and i know i meant it. I remember my GP misdiagnosing me and i remember the A&E nurse who diagnosed me after 3 questions.
loosebolts on
So much misinformation and blurred lines surrounding this and it’s all very confusing.
I’m 37, I assume none of the vaccinations I had as a kid were meningitis related, especially not this strain? All of the media seems to be surrounding teenagers and children – I assume adults are also vulnerable?
Is it airborne or spread through physical contact / saliva? How easy is it to pick up? How do you know you have it?
Anyone fancy breaking it down a little bit? Should the general non-vaping, non-clubbing community be concerned?
SoulStuckInAthens on
Went shopping in Kent today. Wondered why so many people were wearing masks more than usual…
carboncaptcha on
I’ve had viral and bacterial meningitis at two different points of my childhood (just lucky I guess lol) and let me tell you – if you can get the vaccine, then get the vaccine. That shit is no joke.
Bacterial wasn’t so bad, but viral almost killed me (literally did briefly) and I ended up in a coma at the age of 13. The doctors told my parents to expect the worst, or at best possible serious mental disability. Amazingly I came out of it mostly fine (some memory issues, that’s it).
Meningitis does not fuck around.
EDIT: got them mixed around! Viral was bad, bacterial almost killed me
Three_Steaks_Pam on
Eerily around the same time 6 years ago that Boris uttered the words “you must stay at home’.
neverend1ngcircles on
Obviously it would be a good idea to make the newer vaccine available for free, but how is this is a national emergency when it is still a localised outbreak?
Valentine70078 on
I have already posted this on a comment but thought it would be useful to spread awareness on what meningitis is. If you have a loved one starting university – please get them to have the vaccine before they go by ringing your local gp.
Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or, more rarely, parasites. The most serious form is bacterial meningitis, which can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical treatment.
Some types of meningitis can spread through the air, but not all. Bacterial meningitis, such as meningococcal meningitis, is spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or close contact like kissing. Viral meningitis may spread through close contact or contaminated surfaces, depending on the virus. However, meningitis is generally less contagious than illnesses like the flu.
Meningitis can affect anyone, but certain groups are at higher risk. These include babies and young children, teenagers and young adults, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those living in close-contact environments such as university accommodation or military housing.
Symptoms of meningitis can develop quickly. Common symptoms include a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and difficulty waking or extreme drowsiness. More serious symptoms can include seizures, difficulty breathing, and a rash that does not fade when pressed. In babies, symptoms may include a bulging soft spot on the head, a weak cry, poor feeding, and being unusually floppy or unresponsive.
Meningitis is a medical emergency. If you experience symptoms or suspect someone else may have it, you should seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services or going to the nearest hospital. Do not wait for all symptoms to appear. Early treatment, especially for bacterial meningitis, is critical and can save lives.
kewpiemoon on
I hope people don’t push the whole ‘they must be anti-vax!’ narrative. This isn’t what it is at all. Apparently most people didn’t know about this other vaccine (I didn’t until a few days ago!) as it was only introduced in 2015. And it’s not on the NHS and we’re all skint
StudioCharacter9354 on
Hang on, where are the Anti-vax, don’t muzzle me crew?
jennyhof on
I could not cope with another lockdown happy to get vaccinated but absolutely terrified of another lockdown it destroyed my mental health and I don’t think I will ever fully mentally recover from it
Techno_Gandhi on
My 2 year old sister died of meningitis, she was sick one day and dead the next. It’s a horrifying infection and if anyone has any symptoms please get it check immediately.
Cantbearsed1992 on
Really good program on radio 4, Inside Health about the outbreak and bacterial infections this morning
Sad_Seaweed_827 on
I had meningococcal meningitis in 1979, when I was five. I was given a 50% chance of survival and a 50% chance of being physically and/or mentally disabled if I did survive.
It turned out okay, and somehow it seems to have given me superpowers. The last time I was ill was the world cup final day in 1998.
The worst thing about that day is still Ronaldo’s haircut.
Icy_Tea5454 on
My wife works at 111 as a paramedic clinical advisor and said all the calls tonight are around this outbreak which is understandable given the severity of the illness.
There are a few insights below if anyone is genuinely concerned:
Meningitis: Symptoms can escalate rapidly, often within hours. Early signs may resemble flu but worsen quickly.
• Cold/Flu: Symptoms typically develop gradually over a few days and improve within a week.
Critical Warning Signs for Meningitis
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice:
• Severe headache with neck stiffness
• High fever that comes on suddenly
• Rash that does not fade when pressed (perform the glass test)
Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking
Symptoms:
Cold/Flu
Fever-
Sudden fever, but usually lower temp
Meningitis
Fever- high usually sudden onset
Cold/Flu
Headache-
Mild to moderate headache
Meningitis
Headache- severe and persistent
Cold/Flu
Neck Stiffness – rarely present
Meningitis
Neck stiffness-
Severe stiffness, hard to touch chin to chest
Cold / Flu
Rash- rarely present
Meningitis
Rash- Possible, does not fade under pressure
Cold/Flu
Sensitivity to Light (photophobia) – rarely present
Meningitis
Sensitive to light – common
Cold / Flu
Nausea/Vomiting
Possible, but less severe
Meningitis
Nausea/vomiting – common
Cold /Flu
Confusion- rarely present
Meningitis
Confusion-
Possible, altered mental state
locutus92 on
I saw a kid around 12 die of this when I was on a ward having my appendix out in the early 00’s. It was awful and I can still hear them crying.
spacecrustaceans on
Thank the lord I am gay 🤣 If you’re a gay or bisexual man, you can walk into your local sexual health clinic and get the 4CMenB vaccine (sold as Bexsero) completely free. Not only does it protect against the current outbreak, it also offers some protection against gonorrhoea, which is exactly why it’s being offered to gay and bisexual men. While you’re there, consider getting the HPV, monkeypox and hepatitis vaccines, and asking about starting PrEP and DoxyPEP if you haven’t already.
Serious_Bat3904 on
My brother was 11 months old when he got it he spent his 1st Christmas in intensive care mum and dad spent Christmas with him and my sister and I spent Christmas with our grandparents.
Jeffchang96 on
Honestly can we get a break. Shit has been depressing for last several years!
tiffanytoad on
Just took a look on Superdrugs site and it says there’s a national shortage of the vaccine, so I guess the panic has already started, including my own!
leoden27 on
Declared a ‘National Incident’ as stated in the report, but cheap journalism from Ben Gardner at London Now
ChoppaSnatcha on
Top tip in current society, dodge taxes and get private up to date jabs. The NHS will refer you to the morgue before doing shite. After all they have “life-saving” operations to perform based on mental health before basic biological defences that have been around for decades.
meatflaps-69 on
A national incident is not a national emergency. Do better.
randomnameipicked on
If the outbreak is of the bacterial variant, then why are people panic vaccinating – isn’t that against the viral variant?
24 Comments
If only there was some proven and safe method to prevent this!
I’ve had viral meningitis. To parents: if you’d prefer to not hear your kids say “i wish i was dead” and mean it. Get them the vaccine. Its a blur now but i know what i said at the time and i know i meant it. I remember my GP misdiagnosing me and i remember the A&E nurse who diagnosed me after 3 questions.
So much misinformation and blurred lines surrounding this and it’s all very confusing.
I’m 37, I assume none of the vaccinations I had as a kid were meningitis related, especially not this strain? All of the media seems to be surrounding teenagers and children – I assume adults are also vulnerable?
Is it airborne or spread through physical contact / saliva? How easy is it to pick up? How do you know you have it?
Anyone fancy breaking it down a little bit? Should the general non-vaping, non-clubbing community be concerned?
Went shopping in Kent today. Wondered why so many people were wearing masks more than usual…
I’ve had viral and bacterial meningitis at two different points of my childhood (just lucky I guess lol) and let me tell you – if you can get the vaccine, then get the vaccine. That shit is no joke.
Bacterial wasn’t so bad, but viral almost killed me (literally did briefly) and I ended up in a coma at the age of 13. The doctors told my parents to expect the worst, or at best possible serious mental disability. Amazingly I came out of it mostly fine (some memory issues, that’s it).
Meningitis does not fuck around.
EDIT: got them mixed around! Viral was bad, bacterial almost killed me
Eerily around the same time 6 years ago that Boris uttered the words “you must stay at home’.
Obviously it would be a good idea to make the newer vaccine available for free, but how is this is a national emergency when it is still a localised outbreak?
I have already posted this on a comment but thought it would be useful to spread awareness on what meningitis is. If you have a loved one starting university – please get them to have the vaccine before they go by ringing your local gp.
Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the meninges, which are the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or, more rarely, parasites. The most serious form is bacterial meningitis, which can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical treatment.
Some types of meningitis can spread through the air, but not all. Bacterial meningitis, such as meningococcal meningitis, is spread through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, or close contact like kissing. Viral meningitis may spread through close contact or contaminated surfaces, depending on the virus. However, meningitis is generally less contagious than illnesses like the flu.
Meningitis can affect anyone, but certain groups are at higher risk. These include babies and young children, teenagers and young adults, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those living in close-contact environments such as university accommodation or military housing.
Symptoms of meningitis can develop quickly. Common symptoms include a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting, confusion, and difficulty waking or extreme drowsiness. More serious symptoms can include seizures, difficulty breathing, and a rash that does not fade when pressed. In babies, symptoms may include a bulging soft spot on the head, a weak cry, poor feeding, and being unusually floppy or unresponsive.
Meningitis is a medical emergency. If you experience symptoms or suspect someone else may have it, you should seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services or going to the nearest hospital. Do not wait for all symptoms to appear. Early treatment, especially for bacterial meningitis, is critical and can save lives.
I hope people don’t push the whole ‘they must be anti-vax!’ narrative. This isn’t what it is at all. Apparently most people didn’t know about this other vaccine (I didn’t until a few days ago!) as it was only introduced in 2015. And it’s not on the NHS and we’re all skint
Hang on, where are the Anti-vax, don’t muzzle me crew?
I could not cope with another lockdown happy to get vaccinated but absolutely terrified of another lockdown it destroyed my mental health and I don’t think I will ever fully mentally recover from it
My 2 year old sister died of meningitis, she was sick one day and dead the next. It’s a horrifying infection and if anyone has any symptoms please get it check immediately.
Really good program on radio 4, Inside Health about the outbreak and bacterial infections this morning
I had meningococcal meningitis in 1979, when I was five. I was given a 50% chance of survival and a 50% chance of being physically and/or mentally disabled if I did survive.
It turned out okay, and somehow it seems to have given me superpowers. The last time I was ill was the world cup final day in 1998.
The worst thing about that day is still Ronaldo’s haircut.
My wife works at 111 as a paramedic clinical advisor and said all the calls tonight are around this outbreak which is understandable given the severity of the illness.
There are a few insights below if anyone is genuinely concerned:
Meningitis: Symptoms can escalate rapidly, often within hours. Early signs may resemble flu but worsen quickly.
• Cold/Flu: Symptoms typically develop gradually over a few days and improve within a week.
Critical Warning Signs for Meningitis
Seek immediate medical attention if you notice:
• Severe headache with neck stiffness
• High fever that comes on suddenly
• Rash that does not fade when pressed (perform the glass test)
Extreme lethargy or difficulty waking
Symptoms:
Cold/Flu
Fever-
Sudden fever, but usually lower temp
Meningitis
Fever- high usually sudden onset
Cold/Flu
Headache-
Mild to moderate headache
Meningitis
Headache- severe and persistent
Cold/Flu
Neck Stiffness – rarely present
Meningitis
Neck stiffness-
Severe stiffness, hard to touch chin to chest
Cold / Flu
Rash- rarely present
Meningitis
Rash- Possible, does not fade under pressure
Cold/Flu
Sensitivity to Light (photophobia) – rarely present
Meningitis
Sensitive to light – common
Cold / Flu
Nausea/Vomiting
Possible, but less severe
Meningitis
Nausea/vomiting – common
Cold /Flu
Confusion- rarely present
Meningitis
Confusion-
Possible, altered mental state
I saw a kid around 12 die of this when I was on a ward having my appendix out in the early 00’s. It was awful and I can still hear them crying.
Thank the lord I am gay 🤣 If you’re a gay or bisexual man, you can walk into your local sexual health clinic and get the 4CMenB vaccine (sold as Bexsero) completely free. Not only does it protect against the current outbreak, it also offers some protection against gonorrhoea, which is exactly why it’s being offered to gay and bisexual men. While you’re there, consider getting the HPV, monkeypox and hepatitis vaccines, and asking about starting PrEP and DoxyPEP if you haven’t already.
My brother was 11 months old when he got it he spent his 1st Christmas in intensive care mum and dad spent Christmas with him and my sister and I spent Christmas with our grandparents.
Honestly can we get a break. Shit has been depressing for last several years!
Just took a look on Superdrugs site and it says there’s a national shortage of the vaccine, so I guess the panic has already started, including my own!
Declared a ‘National Incident’ as stated in the report, but cheap journalism from Ben Gardner at London Now
Top tip in current society, dodge taxes and get private up to date jabs. The NHS will refer you to the morgue before doing shite. After all they have “life-saving” operations to perform based on mental health before basic biological defences that have been around for decades.
A national incident is not a national emergency. Do better.
If the outbreak is of the bacterial variant, then why are people panic vaccinating – isn’t that against the viral variant?