Meningitis killed our son ... the 260th victim in just one year

TRAGIC Mark Jebson died from meningitis on his 18th birthday.

Less than 24 hours after complaining of feeling unwell he became the 260th person to be killed by the brain bug in Britain in the last 12 months.

Last year saw the country's biggest meningitis outbreak in 50 years, with 2,646 cases reported to the Department Of Health.

Julia Warren, of the Meningitis Research Foundation said: "We are at a 50-year high and we cannot be sure if it has peaked, or whether we will see another rise later this year."

Meningitis can kill within an hour and there is, as yet, no cure for it in Britain.

Mark's sudden death, on January 15, was typical of the way meningitis (and the meningococcal septicaemia which can follow it) strike without warning.

His father Ian, 41, of Ruislip, West London, said: "The day before his birthday, he woke complaining of a temperature and first said he thought he was coming down with a cold.

"When he got worse, we then thought it was a virus which was going round, which caused sickness, with flu-like symptoms and a fever."

Kim, 37, added: "He improved in the afternoon, but at 7pm I found him collapsed in his bedroom.

"By the time the doctor arrived he had come round. The GP asked if he had any of the symptoms of meningitis, like an aching neck or a sensitivity to light. Mark said he hadn't.

"The doctor said she thought it was a virus similar to one she'd seen in other patients and told us to call back if Mark got worse. He seemed OK for the rest of the evening.

"When I looked at him at 2am he was asleep, but his arms were covered in a purple rash. Straight away I thought of meningitis."

The doctor gave Mark antibiotics and he was taken to Hillingdon Hospital.

Kim said: "He got worse, and at 6am they took him to intensive care.

"Two hours later, they said there wasn't much hope left. Blood poisoning was making his organs stop functioning...and at 9.10am they turned off his life support."

Meningitis tends to strike babies, young children and teenagers.

Amanda Raynor and her three-year-old daughter, Lily, are two of the lucky ones.

They are recovering after both being struck down by the bug.

Amanda, 38, of Woodford Green, Essex, said: "I thought Lily had a cold at first.

"But when I saw she had a rash I took her to my GP's emergency surgery and she collapsed in the consulting room."

Within half an hour, doctors at Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, East London, had started giving Lily intravenous antibiotics in a desperate bid to stop the disease taking hold.

If doctors can prevent the bug attacking the major organs of the body there is a chance of survival.

Two days later, Lily was well enough to go home, but needed daily doses of intravenous antibiotics at the hospital. "I was having my first shower for 48 hours after spending the weekend in hospital with Lily when I noticed a rash on my tummy," said Amanda.

"I hadn't been feeling well for a few days, so I went straight to casualty.

"The doctors said they suspected it was meningitis and they admitted me straight away.

"They put me on antibiotics and I was very ill in hospital for a week. But fortunately, I responded well to the drugs. I don't know if I gave the bug to Lily, or if she gave it to me. I'm just glad we both survived."

Meningitis symptoms are difficult to diagnose because they are so similar to flu.

Julia Warren said: "People have to trust their instincts and get help if they feel it's something more serious. Find out if the sick person has aching muscles and limbs.

"Survivors say the pain and discomfort is like flu, but many times worse. It doesn't seem to go away even with strong painkillers. The glass test is very effective - a rash that won't go away when pressed with a tumbler.

'There are around 30 people who are alive today because they used it to get an early warning.

"Rapid treatment with antibiotics is required to prevent the poison doing its damage. Minutes can be mean the difference between life and death because the damage is done very quickly.

"The earlier a patient is treated the less chance of septic shock which can lead to multi- organ failure and death."

Doctors at St Mary's Hospital in London are taking part in an international trial of a treatment which appears to stop the disease killing the most seriously-ill patients.

Dr Saul Faust, who is helping to conduct the trial, said: "The signs are hopeful, but we won't have the results for another two years."

IF you are worried about meningitis or need help in identifying symptoms, ring the Meningitis Foundation. Their number is on the facing page, with our cut-out-and-keep guide to symptoms.

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