Grieving mother warns of the dangers of meningitis

A woman from Norfolk who lost both her sons to meningitis is warning other parents to look out for symptoms of the disease.

Gina Weston's sons Joe and Ryan died twenty years apart of the bacterial form of the disease.

The symptoms are often flu-like and can include a stiff neck and red rash, if not treated quickly it can kill in just 4 hours.

Most children are now vaccinated against some forms of the disease - but there is no vacine against meningitis B - the more deadly bacterial form.

Click here to find out more about the symptoms

Gina said: "It was awful, it was devastating. You just expect to go into your baby's room in the morning and pick them up and carry on as normal you don't expect two hours later to be having your child christened and having to say goodbye."

Each year about 3,400 people contract the disease - one in ten of them will die. Research shows that those under 4 and between 15-24 are at most risk.

Many of the symptoms of meningitis are flu-like; they include a fever, bad headache, confusion, a stiff neck and an aversion to bright light.

A rash which doesn't fade when pressure is applied is also an indicator - but patients won't necessarily have all the symptoms.