When meningitis strikes, the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord become inflamed. The two most common causes are viruses and bacteria. The disease affects people of all ages. Early signs can include fever (fever with spots or rashes that don't fade under pressure constitutes a medical emergency), a headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps. Anyone suspecting a case — and sometimes meningitis strikes at the same time as septicaemia/sepsis — must seek urgent medical help and not wait for the tell-tale rash to develop. There are currently five vaccines available, but not all types of meningitis can be prevented in this way. Research into a cure for all cases is ongoing and Meningitis Now, a charity that provided funding for Diana Man to purchase a special dressage saddle, is working towards a future where no one loses their life to this devastating disease. For more
