Meningitis happens when there is inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord, which are known as the meninges. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection which is carried in the nose or throat. It becomes meningitis when the bacteria enters into the bloodstream. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis and can be fatal, particularly if it is not treated quickly enough.

The sad case of Pete Hynes, a fit and active 40 year old husband and dad of three, shows how rapidly bacterial meningitis can progress. He had gone to lie down on one Saturday morning in December 2022 after developing a sudden earache. He put the earache down to a cold that had affected the rest of the family but when he collapsed, it was clear that he had something much more serious than a common cold. On attendance to the hospital, tests revealed that he was suffering from bacterial meningitis.

Pete had a type of bacterial meningitis involving the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis. When it involves this specific bacteria, it causes meningococcal disease and it can then result in meningococcal meningitis (in 15% of cases), meningococcal septicaemia (in 25% of cases) or a combination of both (in 60% of cases). This puts the brain and the major organs in the body under significant strain.

In spite of being rushed to hospital by ambulance and attempts by doctors to help him, his condition did not improve and he sadly passed away within 3 hours. For Pete’s family, their lives were changed irreversibly on that day by the loss of a much loved husband and dad and the speed with which he succumbed to the infection will have made processing his passing all the more difficult.

Although shocking, such a quick deterioration as that suffered by Pete is unfortunately typical of bacterial meningitis and it emphasises why it is so important to see urgent medical attention. It typically comes on suddenly, within 24 hours of exposure, and although bacterial meningitis is most common in young children, it can affect people of any age, irrespective of how healthy they are.

With prompt treatment, the outcome of bacterial meningitis is generally good but it can still be fatal, even with the best possible care; in adults, the fatality rate is 25%, meaning that 75% of people who suffer bacterial meningitis survive. For those who survive, it can still cause permanent damage to the brain and/or nerves, causing life altering injuries, such as:

• Vision or hearing loss
• Seizures
• Memory and concentration issues
• Balance, coordination and movement issues
• Speech issues

Pete’s family are raising money for Meningitis Now, who are seeking to raise awareness in respect of meningitis and fund research. The vision of Meningitis Now is for a future in which no one in the UK loses there life to meningitis. Pete’s family will still have many unanswered questions as to what happened to him but want to use Pete’s story to help other families not have to go through a similar experience.

It is of vital importance that people are aware of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis, given that the some of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis can masquerade as other more common and loss serious complaints. Not every case of bacterial meningitis will include the tell tale rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it and in some cases, such as Pete’s, there are limited symptoms. The commonly reported symptoms are:

• High temperature (fever)
• Vomiting
• Headache
• A rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
• A stiff neck
• Photophobia (dislike of bright lights)
• Drowsiness / unresponsiveness
• Seizures

It is likewise important that medical practitioners are alert to the possibility of meningitis and that they investigate symptoms of meningitis, such as by way of blood testing, lumbar puncture and CT scanning. There are some cases where there is a delay in diagnosis and treatment of meningitis, which leads to catastrophic consequences. If you feel like you have been affected please read our Meningitis Negligence information page.