After-effects

If meningitis has had a lasting effect on you or someone close to you, we are here to help.

Our support services are available for anyone who has had an experience of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia. We are committed to providing support for life, whenever it is needed, for as long as it is needed.

Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia are serious diseases that can affect anyone at any time. Most people who get meningitis and septicaemia will make a full recovery, but sometimes there are after-effects and complications.

Use the menu on the left to find out more detailed information on the possible after-effects and problems that people can experience.

We also produce an “After meningitis” booklet that contains this information together with the details of our Support Services. Please click here to download the booklet or to request a copy please email info@hadb.org.uk or phone 0800 221 2211.

After-effects and complications can happen with any type of meningitis but are more common after bacterial meningitis. The exact number of people experiencing after-effects is not known, but we estimate that 15% of sufferers are left with serious disabilities and many more will suffer a range of short-term or less serious problems. The length and severity of after-effects varies depending on the type of meningitis. For example, pneumococcal meningitis and meningitis in newborn babies are more likely to cause serious complications.

Because viral meningitis is rarely life-threatening many sufferers can feel that their illness is taken less seriously and the after-effects they suffer are not always acknowledged. Recovery from viral meningitis can be very slow but is normally complete. However, sufferers can still get headaches, tiredness, depression, memory loss and concentration problems.