The ITV star told his fans that he has been diagnosed with both viral meningitis and encephalitis
The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE) star Jordan Brook has provided a health update after being rushed to hospital with meningitis.
Jordan, 31, has been part of the ITV reality series since 2017, fast becoming a fan favourite on the series which introduced the nation to the likes of Joey Essex and Gemma Collins. He’s currently expecting his first child with his co-star Sophie Kasae.
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Rushed to hospital earlier in the week, Jordan has revealed that he has been diagnosed with two viruses, which are causing swelling on his brain. Currently in hospital, he is being monitored for seizures.
Taking to Instagram on Saturday morning (March 21), Jordan shared a video from his hospital bed as he opened up about what’s happening. He confirmed in the video that he has been diagnosed with both viral meningitis and encephalitis.
Speaking to his 251,000 followers, Jordan warned his fans not to listen to rumours about him circulating online. He said: “This is the first time I’ve really been able to speak strong enough about what’s going on.
“There’s been a lot of speculations as to why I’m here and what’ going on and there’s a few comments and people saying things that this is my diagnosis that I got yesterday. I’ve been diagnosed with not one but two joining viruses that are attacking a similar part of my body.
“I have got viral meningitis and encephalitis together. That’s the inflammation of the brain and the lining around it… So this isn’t something small or minor.”
According to the NHS, meningitis ‘is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges)’. If not treated quickly it can become very serious and cause life-threatening sepsis and even result in ‘permanent damage to the brain or nerves’.
The NHS also states that encephalitis ‘is an uncommon but serious condition in which the brain becomes inflamed (swollen)’. The condition can also be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital.
Jordan continued: “I had CT scans, MRI scans, lumbar punctures. With round-the-clock care since I’ve been in this hospital. I’m on IV drips, everything antiviral, pain management, physio, seizure monitoring, to minor seizure risk at the minute.
“But unfortunately the swelling on my brain is getting worse. It’s really, really tough. Even the simple day-to-day activities and normal things that aren’t easy right now so this is what I’m dealing with day-today.
“I’m on day 11 of treatment and I’d like to reach out to everyone and say just be careful what you read online and be conscious of some things that people are writing.”
He added: “Commenting this isn’t like a joke or people are writing that I’m a lot worse than I am and there’s big C-words being dropped and things like that – it isn’t that – but there’s swelling on my brain it’s really bad they’ve upped my meds, my steroids to try and get the swelling down. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be [in hospital]…
“My focus right now is simple I need to get healthy. My Sophie’s been amazing and she’s growing my precious baby boy. I just want to be a young, healthy dad, home for my family, with my baby – that’s the goal. This won’t beat me.”
“I will get out of this,” he added before sharing thanks for support he’s received. “Thank you to all my family and my friends, everyone’s messages that have been coming through and keep the support going.”
When it comes to his diagnosis of viral meningitis and encephalitis ‘mixed together’, Jordan stated that it has caused severe inflammation and swelling on his brain. He noted that the doctors are ‘working tirelessly to get under control’ before he’s allowed to go home.
“Monitoring seizures every hour through the night, so yeah, we’re not out of the woods yet but we’re getting there that is my update for now and thank you, obviously, [to] anyone who is thinking of me and please be kind to Soph and support Soph and anybody else in the same boat but I love you all and this won’t beat me I will get home. So that’s my update for today,” he said.
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