22-year-old girl from Gloucester says knowing the signs of meningitis could save a life
Ella Moulsdale contracted the illness in her first year of university
A 22-year-old from Gloucester says she wants to help spread the word about how to spot the signs and symptoms of meningitis.
It’s after she was hospitalised after contacting the illness while in her first year of university.
Ella Moulsdale now lives with long term affects such as a lack of balance and hearing loss in her right ear.
Ella told Greatest Hits Radio what symptoms she had: “I was sick a lot, couldn’t stop my body from shaking and I just felt really, really unwell.
“I did have spots, very tiny unusual looking spots, but because I wasn’t of what meningitis was before I had it, I didn’t realise that these spots could mean something.”
It comes as Meningitis Now aim to spread more awareness of the illness after they found cases are on the rise in 15-24 year olds.
The charity have created a new student awareness film which highlights the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of meningitis and getting help, fast.
Latest figures show that the total number of cases of bacterial meningitis has risen since the same period (Jan-March) last year.
MenB accounted for over 80% of cases, with 20% occurring in the 15-24 year old age group.
15-24 year olds, especially those starting university, are particularly at risk of contracting the disease, which can kill within hours.
Chief Executive Dr Tom Nutt said; “It is vital that young people know what to do in a meningitis emergency – but vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis.
"MenB is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in young people in the UK, and latest figures show cases are on the rise.
“Despite this, young people are not currently offered the lifesaving MenB vaccine – leaving thousands unprotected."
Meningitis Now is campaigning for the MenB vaccine to be made more widely available on the NHS.