MENINGITIS TRUST ISSUES NEW YEAR WARNING

Meningitis is an infectious disease that can kill within hours and leave sufferers with severe after-effects including brain damage, deafness,and cases of septicaemia, even loss of limbs.

Education and Training Manager Sarah-Jane Smallpage says, "During the winter months we see more cases of meningitis and septicaemia.Worryingly, the symptoms can easily appear like other less harmful conditions such as flu so we are asking people to err on the side of caution, to learn the signs and symptoms of meningitis, and to seek medical attention immediately if you suspect the disease.

"The early symptoms of meningitis can easily be mistaken for those of flu, they include; fever with cold hands and feet, headache, stiff neck,dislike of bright light, drowsiness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea,confusion and in some cases a rash which doesn't disappear under pressure. Symptoms can appear in any order and may not all appear at once. The disease can affect people of all ages."

The Meningitis Trust produces a life-saving card designed to fit inside your wallet, it displays the signs and symptoms of meningitis in both babies and adults - it's available free of charge - to receive one, call the Meningitis Trust's 24-hour nurse led help line on 0800 028 18 28.