Meninigitis alert for Gwent students (From Campaign Series)

Meninigitis alert for Gwent students

6:20pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in Campaign news By Argus reporter

GWENT students heading off to university are being urged to arm themselves with the knowledge to spot meninigitis, as part of a UKwide campaign.

The charity Meningitis UK is offering free wallet-size symptoms cards to all students starting or returning to college or university to try to prevent cases of the potentially killer disease.

Those aged 14-24 are particularly susceptible to the disease, the symptoms of which include a headache, stiff neck and dislike of bright light.

Signs associated with septicaemia include cold hands and feet, aching limbs and a pin-prick rash which can rapidly develop into purple bruising.

Meningitis can kill in just four hours, and Meningitis UK chief executive Kate Rowland said students sometimes mistake the symptoms for a hangover.

“Knowing the signs can save lives because the sooner it is diagnosed, the better the chances of survival,” she said.

A free symptoms card and further information is available from Meningitis UK on 0117 947 6320, or visit www.meningitisUK.org where a video is available.