AROUND 500 people in Salford have received emergency immunisation this week following fears of an outbreak of meningitis. The move comes after two students from Oaklands Hall of Residence in the city were taken to hospital suffering from the life-threatening condition. This week Gill Ellis spoke to a student who knows first-hand how dangerous the disease can be.

Michael Cuthbertson, 18, was in a coma for 12 days and spent five weeks recovering in hospital after becoming infected. He explained what happened: "I was 14 at the time, I had been out with friends at the weekend and I got up on Sunday morning feeling like I was coming down with flu.

"It got worse and worse during the day so I went to bed early. By morning it was so bad, I even stopped breathing.

"Luckily my mother was there, she rang the doctor who came straight away and recognised it immediately."

Michael, of Halton Place, Longridge, near Preston was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where he was treated in intensive care.

His weight plummeted to seven stone but since it was discovered early, and he received expert treatment, his condition began to improve.

But it was a long haul getting back on his feet: "I could not walk at first because I had lost so much weight," he said: "All my strength was sapped."

He also had a to cope with memory loss caused by the meningitis: "I couldn't remember anything, all my speech was messed up, that was really frustrating, I had to have speech lessons.

"I could not even remember my friends' names, and when I went back to school (Broughton High) five weeks later, I could not remember maths, and I had to drop three GCSEs because I had missed so much."

The symptoms to watch out for:

ONE of the big problems with meningitis is distinguishing it from flu symptoms.

Dr Steven Gee, consultant in communicable disease control for north west Lancashire, said: "Symptoms can vary but can include fever, vomiting and diarrhoea, severe headaches often with a dislike of bright lights, stiff neck and aching bones and joints, with drowsiness or impaired consciousness.

"There can also be a rash which starts as red spots but goes to purple marks which do not fade on pressure."

And he warned: "Babies can present more non-specific symptoms but are not noticeably ill. If you are concerned at all consult your doctor immediately."

The Meningitis Research Foundation also operate a help-line, call them on 01454-413344 to find out more.

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