4 minutes | Tuesday, 3 April 2018
A new survey has looked at young people’s awareness of meningitis, revealing that Brits aged 16 – 25 have a worrying lack of knowledge about the condition.
Almost a fifth of those surveyed were unaware than meningitis can be fatal with a further 41% unaware that you could lose a limb as a result of contracting the disease.
Meningitis can become deadly within just 24 hours of the first symptoms appearing and can be caused by bacteria that spread through common adolescent behaviour such as communal living and kissing.
Although many may associate meningitis with a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure, this will not be the symptoms for everyone. The early symptoms of the disease are similar to flu and other viruses such as a fever, headache, vomiting and limb pain.
The survey commissioned by Pfizer reveals that 16 – 25 year olds do not realise how susceptible they can be to meningitis, with just 16% believing that people of this age group are amongst the most at risk of contracting the disease. Almost a third are unaware of the risk factors that cause meningitis, admitting they do not know how the disease is contracted.
As a result, a new UK social media campaign fronted by 11 social influencers is being launched to educate younger people and their parents about meningitis, the impact it can have and the importance of understanding the symptoms.
Al Ferguson - Founder of ‘The Dad Network’, the UK’s most influential Dad Blog and one of the influencers involved in this campaign - joined us on the line.