‘My son almost died of meningitis but this saved his life’

Gaynor Simpson faced every parents’ worst nightmare when her son Ross Simpson was left fighting for his life with sepsis and meningitis three years ago.

The 54-year-old received a phone call from Ross to say that he was feeling unwell, prompting him to come home from university the following day.

However, quick-thinking Gaynor recognised her son’s symptoms were similar to that of meningitis and rushed him to hospital.

(Image: KennedyNews/GaynorSimpson)

However, quick-thinking Gaynor recognised her son’s symptoms were similar to that of meningitis and rushed him to hospital.

The 21-year-old student, who also developed sepsis, spent the next 10 days in intensive care before his condition thankfully began to improve.

The killer bug has sparked widespread concern this week after 20 meningitis cases have been reported in Kent in what’s since been declared by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as a national incident.

The vast majority of young people are not protected against bacterial meningitis as the jab has only been offered to babies since 2015, but Gaynor believes the vaccine should be rolled out to young people too.

Gaynor, who lives in Glasgow, said: “Ross had phoned me on the Tuesday evening to say he wasn’t feeling particularly well. He felt a bit off colour and didn’t have an appetite.

“He’d been an absolutely fine. Then on the Wednesday evening he said he was awake a lot on the night and had a bit of a headache, which was gone now.

“I asked him if he wanted to come home and I could keep an eye on him, and we’re very thankful that he did.

“He took paracetamol and went for a sleep. Then it was about 7ish and Ross told me that he thinks he might need to go to the doctor.

“He was sat in his bed with his head in his hands and said he couldn’t stand the pain in his head.

“Then he was sick over the side of the bed. I asked him if he had a stiff neck and he said yes, then asked him why the light was off in his room and he said he couldn’t stand the light in his eyes.

“Then I said I think this is meningitis.”

Gaynor rushed Ross to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he was taken to ICU after becoming unresponsive.

Later that night, Ross was placed on life-support and a lumbar puncture confirmed he had contracted meningitis and later sepsis.

Ross remained in intensive care for 10 days before his condition began to improve and he was discharged home.

Gaynor said: “The first three days were really uncertain. We were told it was very possible that he might not make it.

“He was incredibly ill. He was on life support for five days then he managed to turn a corner.

“It was a long road to recovery. We’re very lucky. It’s the worst thing that any parent can possibly go through. You’re not the same person again after that.

“It’s a cruel and very unforgiving disease. It’s terrifying how quickly it can move. It’s so important that people know the symptoms.

“Ross had been to a party about a week before and there was a girl at that party who also ended up in hospital.

“We only knew about this other case after Ross ended up in hospital. He probably did get it at the party, you just don’t know.

“It’s just unlucky they both ended up developing it and thankfully both survived.”

What is meningitis? The key symptoms to look out for

Gaynor believes many parents may not be aware that it is possible to pay for the MenB vaccine privately for young adults aged 16-24, known to be a ‘high risk’ age group.

Now, Gaynor is urging others to remain vigilant of meningitis symptoms after the recent outbreak reported in Kent.

Gaynor said: “It is infuriating and heartbreaking in equal measure that we almost lost our son who’s in a high-risk group and we didn’t know anything about this vaccine.

“This vaccine should be offered to that high-risk group. People have no idea there’s another vaccine out there.

“When the news broke about this outbreak, I was just utterly heartbroken because I know exactly how those parents feel.

“It brought it all back for me. You realise you were so close to a very different outcome.

“It’s just about being aware of the symptoms. We don’t want people to have health anxiety, but it’s really important that people have these symptoms in the back of their mind and get to hospital as quickly as they can.”

How to check your vaccination record on the NHS app

• Go to The NHS App
• Open the GP Health Record tab – read and click through the security warning
• Open the Immunisations tab
• Scroll down through your list of vaccines and related information

If you do not see a meningitis vaccination, that does not mean you have not already had one. There are a number of reasons why the NHS app may not have all your immunisations records, including:

• Old records – vaccinations from many years ago may not be recorded on the app
• Overseas jabs – vaccinations received abroad are not automatically added to the app
• GP record gap – if your doctor has not updated their records, there will be a gap in the app
• Access rights – you may need to ask your GP to enable your ‘detailed coded record’

Your GP or a pharmacist will be able to see your full NHS Summary Care Records (SCR), so if in doubt speak to one of them.

Meningitis symptoms

• a high temperature
• cold hands and feet
• vomiting
• confusion
• breathing quickly
• muscle and joint pain
• pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• headache
• a stiff neck
• a dislike of bright lights
• being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• fits (seizures)

And in babies:

• refuse feeds
• be irritable
• have a high-pitched cry
• have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive
• have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head

Different types of meningitis 

Viral

• Viral meningitis  is the most common form. It is rarely life-threatening but can still cause serious illness. It tends to resolve on its own, though can leave infected feeling very unwell during recovery.
• Mollaret’s meningitis  is a rare and recurring form of the disease. Mollaret’s is a chronic condition, most often linked to infection with the Herpes Simplex virus type 2. 

Bacterial

• Bacterial meningitis  is a serious and fast-moving condition that requires urgent hospital admission and prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent life-threatening complications.
• Meningococcal disease.  This term covers two major illnesses, meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can occur independently but more often together, making it especially dangerous.
• Pneumococcal meningitis  is a life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord, it requires swift medical intervention.
• TB meningitis  is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This form of the disease is linked to tuberculosis and can be difficult to diagnose due to its gradual onset.
• Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis  is the leading cause of meningitis in babies, and can cause septicaemia and pneumonia, making it a significant concern in newborns.
• Neonatal meningitis  affects newborns and is divided into “early onset” and “late onset”, depending on how soon after birth the condition develops.
• E. coli meningitis  is the second most common bacterial cause of meningitis in newborns. E. coli meningitis is a serious condition primarily affecting the very young.
• Hib meningitis  is like pneumococcal meningitis, and is a life-threatening disease causing inflammation around the brain and spinal cord – though it has become much less common due to vaccination.
• Listeria meningitis  is caused by Listeria bacteria found in certain foods like unpasteurised soft cheeses, pâté, and shellfish. This form can lead to potentially fatal complications.

Other 

• Fungal meningitis  is a very rare form of the disease and shares similar symptoms but typically develops more gradually rather than suddenly.
• Chemical meningitis  is unlike most other forms because it is not caused by an infection. Instead, it is triggered by exposure to a particular substance or chemical that causes inflammation.
• Parasitic meningitis  is extremely rare and occurs when certain parasites infect and inflame the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Cryptococcal meningitis  is caused by a fungus found in soil and bird droppings, and is most commonly seen in people with weakened immune systems.
• Non-infectious meningitis.  Not all meningitis is the result of an infection; this variety is triggered by non-infectious causes like certain medications or other medical conditions.
• Malignant/carcinomatous meningitis  is a serious condition when cancer cells spread to the meninges. It is associated with advanced cancer and presents significant treatment challenges.