Warning over meningitis symptoms (From The Argus)
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Warning over meningitis symptoms
2:52pm Monday 15th December 2008 in News
Clare Forbes crosses the finishing line of the London Marathon, helped by her stepfather Eiffie Verboort and 1982 London Marathon winner Hugh Jones.
A woman who lost both her legs to meningitis is warning people not to confuse their festive hangover with what could be symptoms of the deadly disease.
Clare Forbes was in a coma for six months after she was struck down by the bug in 2001 at the age of 17.
She had suffered a massive brain haemorrhage and a stroke and had to have both legs amputated below the knee.
At one stage her life support machine was about to be switched off.
Clare, of Flamsteed Heights in Broadfield, Crawley, has gone on to raise more than £80,000 for various charities with fundraising events including walking the London and New York marathons, a parachute jump and a 56-mile trek across Cuba.
She is supporting Meningitis UK’s winter campaign, which is warning people to be alert to the symptoms.
Headaches, vomiting, confusion and aching limbs are all warning signs of the brain bug, which can kill in less than four hours.
Clare, now 24, fell ill after a night out, experiencing a bad headache, dizziness and blurred vision.
She dismissed the symptoms as tonsillitis or the after-effects of one drink too many but when she collapsed in the toilet her friend rushed her to hospital.
She said: “Although we soon realised I was suffering from more than a hangover, because the symptoms are so similar I think it’s really important to remind people to be alert.
“Everyone associates meningitis with a rash but I didn’t have one and often it doesn’t appear until it’s too late.”
The winter months are when people are most at risk, with the majority of dangerous bacterial forms striking due to weakened immune systems and germs spreading more easily.
Those aged between 18 and 25 are most at risk during the festive season, particularly those who have recently suffered from a cold or flu.
Up to 25% of people between the ages of 18 and 25 carry the organism which causes meningitis.
For more information call 01173 737373 or visit www.meningitisuk.org.
