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Seventeen-year-old Saul first noticed symptoms such as feeling cold and increased sensitivity to light while on a school trip. However, it was the appearance of a purple rash that prompted his family to take him to the emergency department. Saul described the situation as unfolding rapidly. “It all happened very fast,” he said, recalling how his mother’s mention of meningitis brought a profound sense of worry. “It was really concerning – it was all so alien to us.”
Saul spent a week in the hospital, a period he found very frightening given his young age. Nearly a year later, his 16-year-old brother Drew began to feel unwell while preparing for his GCSE exams, initially showing only a high temperature without other noticeable symptoms. After visiting the GP, the situation intensified quickly. Drew recounted, “When I left the house I had no rashes on me at all. When the doctor lifted up my top, I had a big rash all over my chest and belly,” also mentioning the development of purple spots on the roof of his mouth. Drew was admitted to the children’s ward at Wrexham Maelor hospital, where he stayed for two weeks.
Saul reflected on the unusual circumstance of both brothers contracting the illness. “I did think it’s a bit weird isn’t it really that we’ve both caught it, what are the odds of that?” The initial 48 hours were critical for Drew, but he gradually improved. Despite this, he experienced significant weight loss and it took several months before he fully recovered. Drew expressed deep gratitude for the prompt medical response, stating, “I’m really thankful the doctor called the ambulance straight away when he noticed the rash – those quick decisions potentially saved our lives.”
Meningitis is an infection affecting the membranes around the brain and spinal cord and can pose a serious threat if not treated promptly. While it can affect individuals of any age, it is most common among babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults. The infection arises from either bacteria or viruses, with bacterial meningitis being less common but more severe, as it can cause sepsis and brain damage. Caroline Hughes of the Meningitis Research Foundation explained that young people are at increased risk due to factors such as social mixing and gaining more independence from parents. She stressed the importance of recognizing symptoms early and ensuring vaccinations are up to date.
In response to a meningitis B outbreak in Kent earlier this year, a vaccination catch-up initiative was launched across Wales and England targeting young people entering further or higher education in September 2026 who had not previously been protected against the predominant strain. Public Health Wales reported that nearly 20,000 young people have received the first dose, and over 14,000 have also gotten the second dose, which is administered four weeks after the first. Universities across the country have been hosting vaccination clinics during the initial weeks of the academic term
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