Meningitis amongst young people can be prevented by a mere jab yet not many make the most of this free vaccination. The Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) estimate that there are about 3,200 cases of septicaemia and meningitis in the UK per year.
One such example is of Shirali Patel, 19, from Harrow, who came home after her first term at Churchill College, Cambridge. The A* student started to feel unwell and visited her GP who told her to take paracetamol and rest after taking her temperature. However, over the next few days, her throat became increasingly painful and he health started to deteriorate. After being taken to the walk-in clinic, the doctors realised something was seriously wrong with Shirali and rushed her to Northwick Park Hospital.
After 24 hours of ordeal for her family, they were told that she had meningococcal W septicaemia (MenW)- a strain of meningitis. Suffering from severe septicaemia was causing Shirali's organs to shut down, hence, she was into an induced coma. Shirali's father, Dee Patel, 51, a property landlord spoke of their anguish. He said, “Foolishly, I goggled the disease and saw some pretty horrific stories. I also read that a free vaccine for MenW is available for young people Shirali's age and kept thinking that if only we'd know about it, our daughter's life might not be in the balance.”
She was put on full dialysis and required breathing apparatus. After a few months, she was almost normal again. However, tests revealed scarring on her lungs and chronic kidney disease which requires regular monitoring. But most importantly, no brain damage.
It is said that about ¼ of teenagers will carry meningococcal bacteria in their throats and noses and spreads to other people through close contact, such as coughing, sneezing and kissing.
Evidence and policy manager at MRF, Claire Wright said, “All first-year university students aged under 25 urgently need to get their MenACWY vaccine if they haven't already had it, so that they don't bring meningitis home for Christmas.”
Paediatrician at Imperial College and medical adviser at MRF, Dr Nelly Ninis stated, “Uptake of the MenACWY vaccine among older teenagers, who are eligible to get it free from their GP, has been worryingly low, with only a third of school leavers since 2015 having the jab. Sadly, this means easily preventable cases like Shirali's are still too common.”
