Student who thought she had hangover diagnosed with deadly meningitis

A student was in a coma fighting for her life with meningitis – which she first dismissed as symptoms of a hangover.

Alice Baird, 20, was dashed to hospital after suffering convulsions and an agonising headache.

She had initially thought she was feeling the effects of the night previous, which she'd spent drinking with university mates.

But doctors in A&E pumped her with antibiotics and found she had meningococcal meningitis.

"It’s so scary to think about even now but I dread to think what could have happened if I’d stayed in bed to sleep it off. At 20 years old I never thought I’d have to fight for my life," the marketing student at University of Portsmouth said.

"There I was at university trying to focus on my future but, if I’d done things differently, I might not have had one."

Speaking in Meningitis Awareness Week, Alice is encouraging other students returning to, or starting, university to be on the alert for flu-like symptoms which might instead be signs of the dreaded disease.

She said: "It can take hold so quickly I just want to warn other young people like me to be aware of meningitis and to take action if they have any concerns. Early action could save their lives or prevent life-changing after-effects."

Alice, originally of Kent, Orpington, went out with friends from her uni netball side in March.

"I got back at about 1am in the morning, not too late, and while I’d had a couple of drinks, I wasn’t drunk – I’m not a big drinker," she said.

"But I woke up the next morning with a headache and, although surprised, I wondered if it was a hangover. I had a really bad headache but though I tried to sleep it off, I couldn’t. I rang my mum early in the morning and said I didn’t feel well but was going to back to sleep for a while – I was conscious I had to meet up with my uni group later because there was a presentation I had to do by the end of the week."

"But an hour later I was in agony. My headache had just got worse and I had flu-like symptoms. I called my mum again and said I felt really unwell, which was unusual for me because I’m normally fit and healthy, and I asked her to come and get me."

By the time Alice's mother finished the two-hour trip to the Hampshire town, the student's symptoms had become worse.

Her neck was stiff, she had been sick and her eyes had become sensitive to light.

She also suffered convulsions on the way to Princess Royal University Hospital in nearby Farnborough.

What the NHS says about meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges), NHS Direct says.

It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

Meningitis can be very serious if not treated quickly. It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (septicaemia) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.

A number of vaccinations are available that offer some protection against meningitis.

Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:

• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• being sick
• a headache
• a blotchy rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it (this won't always develop)
• a stiff neck
• a dislike of bright lights
• drowsiness or unresponsiveness
• seizures (fits) 

These symptoms can appear in any order and some may not appear.

Doctors diagnosed Alice quickly and she spent two weeks in hosital.

She added: "I was in so much pain and so unwell I was put into an induced coma and kept in ICU for three days. It was a really worrying time for my family who didn’t know whether I would survive, or whether I would come through it without brain damage, deafness, sight loss or limb loss – all of which can happen as a result of meningitis and septicaemia.

"Even when I came round, it was really frightening. When I was told what had gone on I got really upset at what might have happened. I had heard of meningitis because I’d had the MenACWY vaccination before I started university which can protect against some strains of meningitis (although, unfortunately, not mine)."

Alice managed to sit end of year exams but, five months on, she is only just getting back to her normal self and still gets tired.

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