Linzi concerned over lack of Meningitis info

Linzi Swann concerns are over the results of a recent survey by Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) which has found that despite being the second most at risk group of meningitis, students lack specific knowledge and awareness of these deadly diseases.

Allmost 70% of students in Northern Ireland, in fact, do not know whether they have been vaccinated against meningitis and 25% wrongly believe a rash is present in all cases of meningitis.

Meningitis Awareness Week (September 20-26) aims to combat this lack of knowledge and encourage teenagers and young adults to ‘Get the Message’ through the launch of a new iPhone app complete with symptoms checker and emergency contact information.

Every day in the UK and Ireland one teenager or young adult (14 to 24-year-old) will become ill with meningitis and septicaemia - the blood poisoning form of the disease. These are devastating diseases which can leave a person fighting for their life within a few hours.

Living together in halls of residence and high levels of casual intimacy, especially during fresher’s week, put students at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Sadly, around one in 10 people who contract meningitis or septicaemia die and many more are left with after-effects sometimes as severe as deafness, brain damage and amputations.

Linzi, from Ballymena, who had meningitis when she was a teenager, says: “I was so ill that I don’t really remember being in hospital but it was a frightening experience for my family.

Sadly not everyone survives.” Linzi hopes that by raising awareness, more lives will be saved.

“The survey results are worrying because students really need to know about these deadly illnesses.”

The charity has also issued a wide range of awareness resources to schools and colleges across the nation including over 70,000 spot the symptoms wall planners, posters and leaflets.

Knowing the symptoms and acting fast will save lives. Symptoms information is available free of charge from the Foundation’s Freefone 24 hour helpline – 080 8800 3344 – and their website - www.meningitis.org

MRF currently funds 26 research projects into the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The total value of the Foundation's investment to date in vital scientific research is over 16 million.