Recovery from meningitis

Meningitis is a disease that can strike quickly, but its impact can last a lifetime. Everyone’s experience of meningitis is different and the recovery process – emotionally and physically – for each individual, or family, can vary immensely.

For many, the suddenness of the disease, and the speed with which it develops, is both shocking and overwhelming. People can often be left feeling stunned and traumatised; worried about what the future may hold.

Taking time to recover - leaving hospital

Leaving hospital can be a worrying time. A person is not always ready, or able, to go back to their old lifestyle. If there are serious after-effects, rehabilitation will take longer.

• For some this means many months in hospital, which can cause problems for family life, education or employment.
• For others, although the stay in hospital may be short, adjusting to life at home can still be difficult.

People recovering from either viral or bacterial meningitis should listen to what their bodies are telling them and should be advised not to rush. Plenty of rest can help with the recovery process.

Recovery and young children

Many children will quickly make a good recovery despite being very ill, but they may still behave differently, demand attention and have unexpected temper tantrums.

• Younger children can find it hard to explain how they feel.
• Serious after-effects can lead to many changes because of frequent hospital visits, ongoing treatment and disruption to family life.
• Brothers and sisters, particularly younger children, may need extra attention and understanding because they can experience anxiety and feelings of isolation.

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Key facts

• Most people will make a good recovery from meningitis.
• 15% of those who survive meningitis will be left with severe after-effects including brain damage, hearing and sight loss and where septicaemia has occurred, loss of limbs and scarring.
• Many survivors of meningitis will be left with invisible, but life-changing after-effects, such as memory loss, tiredness, behavioural and emotional problems, depression and piercing headaches.
• Some after-effects are short term, however, some will last a lifetime.
• 10% of meningitis cases result in death.

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Have you been affected by meningitis and need support?

If so, we are here to help you. We have a wide range of free, professional support services available to you right now. Simply call one of our nurse-led team (freephone helpline 0808 80 10 388) and they can talk you through everything that we do; from counselling, to a home visit, to financial support grants, art therapy and much, much more. Our support is for life and available to anyone affected by the disease; the individual, their family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and the whole community.

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Got a question about meningitis?

You can give one of our team a call on our freephone helpline, available 24-hours a day: 0808 80 10 388, or you can email us at helpline@meningitis-trust.org and we will come back to you as soon as we can (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).