'I'm lucky to be alive after catching meningitis'

Ella Moulsdale knew almost nothing about meningitis when she fell sick

Ella Moulsdale had been at university for just weeks when she was struck down with deadly meningitis.

The 22-year-old knew almost nothing about the disease which could have taken her life within hours.

She became unwell on a Friday evening in November but did not see a doctor until two days later on Sunday night.

The Bath Spa University student said it was "a very scary time" and she was "very lucky to be here".

Ms Moulsdale spent nine days in hospital recovering and was still living with the effects.

It was 2021 and the then 18-year-old had just begun her first term at university.

"I felt very unwell over a couple of days," she said. "I deteriorated very quickly and, when you feel so ill, you don't quite realise how bad it is when you are so ill yourself."

One her friends spotted something was wrong and noticed some she had some spots.

The student from Gloucester said: "I was seen by a doctor as my friends called 111 and he instantly suspected meningitis.

"He probably saved my life by acting so fast to give me an antibiotic.

"Then I arrived at hospital and I was in Bath Hospital for nine days."

She also had septicaemia and sepsis and as a result said her balance has been affected and she gets tired faster than she used to.

She has also lost hearing in one ear.

Meningitis Now boss Tom Nutt urged people to get vaccinated

"If my friends and the doctor had not acted so quickly my story could be very different and I might not be the one here to tell it today," she said.

Ms Moulsdale said: "Meningitis can kill in hours, so I am incredibly lucky, because I fell ill on the Friday night and was not seen by the doctor until Sunday evening."

She said the symptoms "could have developed so much more rapidly" and that living through it was "a bit of a blur".

Stroud-based charity Meningitis Now has made a film to highlight the symptoms of the disease to students.

It said cases of bacterial meningitis were on the rise and that meningitis B accounted for more than 80% of cases, with 20% occurring in the 15-24 year old age group.

Meningitis infects the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

Those aged 15-24, especially those starting university, were at risk it warned.

Chief executive Tom Nutt said: "It is vital that young people know what to do in a meningitis emergency - but vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis.

"MenB is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in young people in the UK, and latest figures show cases are on the rise.

"Despite this, young people are not currently offered the lifesaving MenB vaccine - leaving thousands unprotected."

What is meningitis?

• Meningitis is an infection of the meninges - the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

• Meningococcal bacteria are common and carried harmlessly in the nose or throat by about one in 10 people

• They are passed on through close contact

• Anyone can get meningitis but babies and young children are most vulnerable

• Symptoms include a high fever with cold hands and feet, agitation, confusion, vomiting and headaches