A WOMAN who beat meningitis after her son recognised the symptoms spoke out to warn others they could also be vulnerable.

Wendy Webb, 55, always believed meningitis only affects teenagers and young people, but now knows differently after falling ill.

In early March Wendy suffered with an aching head, neck, back and legs and severe sickness, but initially thought she just had a bad case of flu.

But after 36 hours, when she was extremely weak and in terrible pain, her youngest son Daniel, 33, a trainee operating theatre worker at Southend Hospital, realised it could be something more serious, and took her to A&E where she was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis, when bacteria infects the cerebrospinal fluid and puts pressure on the brain.

Dr John Day, a consultant in infectious diseases at Southend Hospital, who treated Wendy, said Daniel’s knowledge was key to her survival.

He said: “Bacterial meningitis is a very serious illness which can come on suddenly and develop extremely quickly.

“It is so important families are aware of the symptoms and, if they suspect a case of meningitis, get medical help immediately.

“Wendy was extremely lucky her son was so tuned in.

“Prompt treatment really is vital and any delay can jeopardise the chances of recovery.”

Wendy, of Avenue Road, Westcliff, said: “When they asked me the level of pain on a scale of one to ten, I said ten, and I have a high pain threshold.”

Her memories of arriving at hospital are very vague, and she ended up spending ten days on the infection ward.

More than two months on, Wendy, a keen horse rider, is still recovering from her ordeal and still suffers from frustratingly low energy levels.

She decided to speak out about her experience after realising many people she knew did not realise meningitis affected people of all ages.

Wendy, a civil servant, said: “I didn’t get a rash, which is the symptom which everyone always associates with meningitis. And all my friends have said exactly the same. You just do not expect someone of my age to get the disease.

“The two people I knew years ago who had it both died. One was aged 19 and the other late thirties.

“I hope my very unpleasant experience raises awareness as, if treatment is not given in time, it could be fatal.”

Daniel, who lives in Newell Avenue, Shoebury, is backing his mum’s appeal and says he only recognised her symptoms because he works within a medical environment.

Dr Day added: “As Wendy discovered, the meningococcal form is not always accompanied by a rash.

“We would like to stress it is not just a disease of younger people. It can affect anyone, from babies to people in their eighties or nineties.”