Simon Reevell joins with local meningitis survivor George Lane to ask people to trust their instincts if they believe they have the disease
Posted by Simon Reevell, MP for Dewsbury, at 18:02, Wed 18 January 2012:
Simon Reevell, the local MP for Dewsbury, has met with meningitis survivor George Lane to support Meningitis UK’s campaign advising people to know the symptoms and keep checking if they suspect meningitis. Cases of meningitis traditionally peak in February as it is during colder months when immune systems are weakened and viruses circulate that dangerous bacterial forms of meningitis are most likely to strike.
When George was six, he was rushed to hospital twice with meningococcal meningitis and once with the more aggressive pneumococcal strand. Now Head Boy at Shelley College, he again suffered from pneumococcal meningitis in August 2011. Having survived four times, George has committed to educate people about meningitis.
The classic signs of meningitis are a headache, stiff neck and dislike of bright lights. Other symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and drowsiness. Symptoms typical of septicaemia, which can also occur, are cold hands and feet, leg pain and abnormal skin colour. The early symptoms of meningitis are often confused with the common cold and the specific symptoms such as the rash often appear late.
Simon has joined with George in encouraging people to trust their instincts if they suspect meningitis and to take action.
Simon said, “Students are one group which is particularly susceptible to meningitis. I am very conscious that there are lots of people living in the area who go away to study and that there are also many who come to live at Storthes Hall in the campus village as well as those studying in Dewsbury and just down the road in Leeds, Bradford and York.”
Simon added, “It is vital for us all to be aware of meningitis as it can strike down anyone, of any age, in less than four hours.”
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