Public unaware of hidden meningitis effects

A new report from the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) has found although many know that meningitis can kill, the majority don’t know that meningitis can leave people with severe and lifelong health consequences.

The charity’s report, commissioned for Meningitis Awareness Week 2019 (16-22 September) revealed nine out of ten people did not know deafness was a common after effect of meningitis, despite it being a leading cause of acquired hearing loss. Most people (87%) also under-estimated or didn’t know how many people were left with severe impairments as a result of bacterial meningitis.

Over 92% of people surveyed were unaware of the full cost of severe meningitis; MRF estimated the costs to the government for a severe case of meningitis to be in the region of £3 to £4.5m over the lifetime of the survivor.

MRF also asked supporters about their views on the specialist aftercare they had received.  Out of 184 individuals who responded, 64% felt dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with assessment for long-term effects of meningitis; 61% felt dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with information they were given on long term effects of meningitis and 68% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied about their post-discharge recovery review.

Aston spoke to Vinny Smith, CEO of meningitis research foundation (MRF) to discuss the report in further detail and also Jo Kelley, case study who discussed her own personal background about one member of her family who has had meningitis and the after effect it has had.