A student from southeast London is leading an initiative to educate others about the dangers and symptoms associated with meningitis.

Eliana Shaw-Lothian had recently begun her studies at the University of Surrey when she fell gravely ill with meningitis B two years ago.

She credits her friends and university staff for their swift actions, which ultimately saved her life.

“I woke up on a Friday feeling an intense headache and a bit dizzy,” she shared.

“I didn’t pay much attention to it since it’s a rather common symptom, but later that evening, I experienced cold hands and feet, along with a stiff neck and joint stiffness.”

Just four weeks into her first term, Eliana, a psychology major from Bromley, unexpectedly became ill, and her condition deteriorated rapidly within a matter of hours.

“That evening, when I began to vomit, I started to worry that something might not be right, but by the time I realized, I was already in a state of delirium,” she explained.

“The next memory I have is waking up in a hospital three days later after being placed in an induced coma.”

The night before, Eliana had informed her parents that she was feeling unwell, and she believes their worry, combined with the quick thinking of her flatmates, likely saved her life.

“Fortunately, my flatmates heard my phone ringing, which prompted them to come into my room and check on me; they were able to answer my phone and speak with my parents,” she recalled.

“This is why I was admitted to the hospital so swiftly.”

Dr. Tom Nutt, the CEO of Meningitis Now, stated, “While meningitis B is not very prevalent, it can be fatal, and university students are among those at a heightened risk.”

“Many individuals in the general population carry the bacteria responsible for causing meningitis harmlessly in the back of their throats and noses.”

“About one in ten people carries it, but when students gather from various parts of the country in university settings, living together in dorms, the likelihood of that bacteria spreading increases.”

“Actually, up to one in four students may be affected.”

He pointed out seven critical symptoms of meningitis B that require immediate attention: fever, headache, vomiting, muscle pain, intolerance to bright lights, stiff neck, and a rash that does not fade when pressed.

Dr. Nutt emphasized the need for prompt action if symptoms worsen suddenly.

“Not all of these symptoms will necessarily manifest in everyone, nor will they appear in a specific order,” he remarked.

“Therefore, it’s essential to raise the alarm if someone seems unusually unwell and is deteriorating.”

He noted that while there is a vaccine for meningitis B, it is currently accessible through the NHS only for infants.

“We believe that individuals in the student age group should also receive this vaccine free on the NHS, but that is not currently the case, and we hope for this to change,” he added.

Eliana, a passionate dancer, shared how meningitis B has impacted her life.

“I still have some fluid around my heart and lungs and some scarring, but overall I’m doing quite well, and it’s gradually improving,” she revealed.

“Not everyone is as fortunate as I am, so I’m incredibly grateful to be back at university and continue dancing, which brings me great joy.”