A leading charity has issued a warning to parents to be on their guard against meningitis as children return to school after their summer holidays.
Meningitis UK says the close confines of a classroom put youngsters more at risk from the deadly brain bug.
The bug kills more under-fives than any other infectious disease while teenagers and students are also more vulnerable.
Chief Executive of the Charity, Steve Dayman, who lost his own son to the disease, said: “Many parents wrongly believe their child is protected from meningitis, which could prove fatal.
“We’re urging them to know the facts and be extra vigilant as their children return to the crowded environment of a school, where germs spread more easily due to close human contact.
“It is vital parents trust their instincts and seek medical treatment as quickly as possible. In the absence of a vaccine, this could mean the difference between life and death.”
Meningitis UK’s advice to parents is to make sure they are clued-up on the full range of symptoms and to trust their instincts.
The charity offers a free symptoms information packs to parents containing leaflets with facts and frequently asked questions, plus a Check the Symptoms fridge magnet and a wallet-sized symptoms card.
To order your free symptoms information pack, please call 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisUK.org
