‘I KNOW HOW LUCKY I AM TO HAVE SURVIVED’
Welsh teen Abi describes the horror of meningitis as students are warned they are at risk and should get vaccinated
A WELSH teenager has described how she nearly died from meningitis as those off to university are being urged to be vaccinated against the disease.
Only one in three 17 to 18-year-olds in Wales have had the potentially lifesaving ACWY vaccine against certain strains of meningitis which was introduced last year in response to a growing number of cases.
Abi Jones, 19, from Newport, said doctors believed exam stress weakened her immune system and she wanted to raise awareness of the disease which left her in a coma and having to learn to walk again.
The University of Birmingham psychology student, who said the illness left her “lucky to survive”, was home in Newport last Easter when she got what she thought were flu symptoms.
Rushed to hospital, her condition worsened and she lost two stone as bacteria attacked her vital organs.
“I woke up on the Saturday before Easter with a sore throat, a high temperature and aching limbs – little did I know that this was the first signs of meningitis.
“The next morning, my symptoms had worsened and I’d developed a rash. My mum called the NHS helpline and they sent a first response paramedic, and within minutes the ambulance came. At the hospital, the doctors took a lumbar puncture to diagnose which kind of meningitis I had.
“At this point my mum and dad were allowed to see me and I noticed that my mum had been crying. I knew then that they had been told my diagnosis. I didn’t feel like somebody with meningitis – I was talkative and smiling. I did feel a little rough, but nothing seriously wrong and all I wanted to do was sleep.
“Later that evening I was put into a coma as my condition had deteriorat- ed rapidly. My blood pressure was dipping dangerously low, along with my oxygen levels, as my organs were being attacked by the bacteria.
“I was moved into a separate room, with life support machines doing all of the work and placed on a dialysis type machine, to clean my blood. Luckily, my condition was slowly improving. As the doctors brought me round from sedation, my body reacted very badly. I only found out later that I was screaming and was experiencing terrifying hallucinations and dreams brought on by ICU (intensive care unit) psychosis – a form of delirium.
“On top of this I was suffering from photophobia, an extreme sensitivity to light, caused by the meningitis. This was a very frightening time for me and for my family. “I was visited by a psychiatrist, as I struggled a lot with these psychological effects. The photophobia made me ‘blind’ for a few days and as the light was too painful for my eyes, I had to wear an eye patch or sunglasses.”
Abi said: “In my nine days in hospital, I had lost nearly two stone in weight, which was almost all muscle. I had become very weak and had to learn how to walk again. My skin was very fragile from the sepsis rash but I was fortunate that I didn’t lose any limbs.
“Although there were lots of falls along the way, I’m glad to say that I can now walk again. I still struggle with bending and walking up stairs, but I have been very lucky. Since leaving hospital recovery had been difficult as I’m still very weak.”
Abi, who returned to her studies and was due to sit her first-year exams this month, said: “I know how lucky I am to have survived, not to mention recovering with hardly any side effects. It just shows the quicker that you recognise the symptoms, the better the outcome.
“The support I received from all my family, and also the dedication of my parents, has helped the most with my recovery.”
Abi wants other young people to know that when she contracted meningitis she was very stressed with deadlines and part-time work, and that her doctors thought that this had weakened her immune system.
“It’s not just babies that can have meningitis, young people and students also catch it because of stress and being run-down. So do whatever you can to avoid stress and look after yourself.”
Abi talked about her lucky escape as those off to university in a few weeks are being warned they are at increased risk from the deadly infection.
Public Health Wales and the charity Meningitis Now are urging them to get the ACWY vaccine before they go.
A social media campaign launched by Public Health Wales warns: “Making new friends is one of the best bits about going to uni. Unfortunately this can increase your chances of getting meningitis.”
The ACWY meningitis jab was introduced for teenagers in August 2015 in response to a growing number of cases of meningococcal group W disease, but only 32% of 17 to 18-year-olds in Wales have had it, compared with 35% in England and 80% in Scotland.
Those born between September 1996 and August 31, 1997, should have received a letter from their GP inviting them for the jab while those born between September 1, 1997 and August 1998 were due to get letters between April this year and March 2017.
Public Health Wales, which said only 32% of 17 to 18-year-olds in Wales had had the jab, is urging teenagers going to university not to wait for the letter but to ask their GP for the vaccination now.
Leony Davies, a specialist nurse at PHW, said: “Cases of meningitis and septicaemia due to Men W disease have been increasing year year-on-yearon year in England and Wales, from 22 confirmed cases in 2009 to around 200 last year, yet last year only one third of 17 to 18-year-olds received the vaccine in Wales. This means many young people remain at risk from the disease.
“I would encourage all 17 to 18-yearolds to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The vaccine is particularly important for first-time university students as mixing with new people and living close together in places like university halls are known to increase the risk of the disease.
“It’s vital that those going to uni this autumn are not complacent about the threat of meningitis – we urge them to take up this lifesaving vaccine before they go.”
All new students under the age of 25 are advised to contact their GP surgery to get the vaccine at least two weeks before starting university to ensure protection in the first few weeks of university when the risk is greatest.
The Public Health Wales social media campaign adds: “Don’t worry, there is a free vaccine available from your GP surgery that can help protect you and your new friends from some strains of meningitis. If you haven’t already had your MenACWY jab make an appointment for it today.”
Meningitis Now said take-up
In my nine days in hospital, I had lost nearly two stone, which was almost all muscle. I had become very weak and had to learn how to walk again. I was fortunate that I didn’t lose any limbs
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