A Weybridge woman who nearly lost her baby daughter to meningitis two years ago, was one of hundreds of people around the country who supported National Meningitis Week this month.

Marisa Baker, whose daughter Elouisa survived the potentially lethal GBS meningitis in 2007, said it was important people recognise the symptoms of the illness early on.

She said: “I believe that prompt diagnosis and treatment saved her life, so it’s vitally important to be aware of the symptoms, as just a few hours can make all the difference.

"I’d also encourage pregnant women to be aware of the test available to see if they are GBS carriers.”

The Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), which organised the awareness week between Monday, September 21, to Sunday, September 27, said babies ran the highest risk of contracting meningitis, with one in 10 of the 1,000 diagnosed every year eventually dying from the illness.

Meningitis is more devastating in babies because their brains are more vulnerable to injury than older children and about a quarter of those fortunate enough to survive are left with life-altering effects such as brain damage and deafness.

Christopher Head, chief executive of MRF, said the charity is also launching a new research project to improve recognition and treatment of meningitis in babies.

For a free symptoms pack or if you are concerned, call MRF’s free 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344 where staff and nurses are on-hand to talk through any aspect of the disease, from information on recognising the symptoms to befriending for those whose lives have been affected by meningitis.

Information about symptoms is also available by SMS text message on your mobile by texting MRF to 82088.

To learn more about meningitis and the charity, visit meningitis.org.

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