Meningitis in Adults

My son had meningitis early last year at the age of 23 and was really quite poorly, but has almost completely recovered now. No two people are going to experience the illness in exactly the same way, so I think all you can do is to go along and be open minded about whatever you find. It can be a very slow recovery though, with some obvious impairment of brain function in the early days of recovery. You can find more information here.

We lost a close friend in his 40s to meningitis 25 years ago from a bacterial form of the disease. He has been fit and healthy until then. Seems it can strike anyone at any time.

Thanks for the helpful website GrannyA it looks as if this illness is one that can take a long time to recover from.

Yes Anya my friend was very fit, but luckily, unlike your friend, she has survived.

Thankfully people are more aware these days due to amazing people like Steve Dayman. He lost his toddler son to meningitis and since then has worked tirelessly to raise public awareness of the symptoms, and battled for vaccines to be developed.

I had the viral form 40 years ago. The onset was fast and frightening. One minute I was walking the boys back from the playground, the next I was feverish, vomiting and had the headache from hell as well as a painfully stiff neck. There were several similar cases among people I knew. It was clear that I was really ill when the doctor visited almost daily, though I wasn't hospitalised. It took a good month to get back to normal. However, the bacterial form of this disease is far more dangerous than the viral and I'm eternally grateful that I didn't have that. The five-year-old daughter of a friend died of meningococcal septicaemia.

Thanks for the overview Annodomini very helpful and prepares me for how my usually very healthy friend might be.

Her husband is from the 'stiff upper lip' brigade so I don't think I would get much out of him.

I have nursed meningitis patients NanKate and as you can imagine, every case is different regarding strain and recovery period.

On average it can take the best part of a year of slow recovery during which the patient will experience mood swings and periods of feeling very low. A stiff upper lip is not what is needed for your friend so if you can be there to give her support and understanding and just be a friend who listens to how she is feeling, this will be a comfort to her.

Thanks Agus this info is helpful as I want to approach my friend in the most beneficial way.