Teen caught ‘brain-swelling bug’ after sharing drinks and vapes on night out

A teen astir died from a uncommon corruption she believes she caught aft sharing a vape and drinks connected a nighttime out.

Sian Alderton, 18, caught bacterial meningitis – an corruption that causes inflammation astir the encephalon – aft going retired with friends successful Norwich, Norfolk.

She initially thought she had a mean bug erstwhile she began to consciousness sick the pursuing time – but was rushed to infirmary erstwhile her mum noticed reddish spots connected her body.

Ms Alderton was placed successful a medically-induced coma for 4 days arsenic her assemblage battled the infection.

She and her mum Kerrie are present raising consciousness of the signs of meningitis after doctors judge she could person caught it from sharing drinks, a vape oregon kissing.

Mum Kerrie Durrant, 36, said: ‘Everything happened truthful rapidly erstwhile we arrived astatine the hospital. Sian was enactment into an induced coma and the doctors and consultants told america Sian was precise poorly.

‘We would request to hole for the worst and to accidental our goodbyes arsenic she whitethorn not travel retired of the coma. I privation to marque radical alert that the doctors person to find a root oregon wherever the meningitis bacteria started from.

‘During tests Sian showed symptoms of sinusitis meaning it could person perchance been contracted done saliva from specified things arsenic vaping, kissing oregon sharing drinks.’

Sian went retired connected October 18 to 2 clubs with her friends wherever she said she shared a vape with them.

The adjacent morning, she was covered successful reddish and purple spots, which did not vanish erstwhile her mum held them nether pressure.

Sian said: ‘The past happening I retrieve is walking into the infirmary entrance. I cognize I was aching and it was hard to determination truthful I sat successful a wheelchair but past it gets blurry.’

Within 4 hours of arriving astatine the hospital, Sian was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and placed into a medically-induced coma for 4 days.

When she woke up days later, she was told she had bacterial meningococcus oregon meningitis – 1 of the ‘few cases’ the infirmary had ever seen.

The doctors treating her explained it mightiness person travel from sharing a portion oregon vape oregon kissing idiosyncratic portion she was retired – but they couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

Sian spent 14 days altogether successful infirmary and remarkably passed her driving trial little than a week aft being discharged.

Her mum added: ‘Myself and the household would truly similar to convey the NNUH doctors, consultants, nurses and everyone other progressive successful Sian’s care. The unit successful A&E, resus, ICU and the Heydon Ward truly are amazing.’

Dr Tom Nutt, CEO of the foundation Meningitis Now, said: ‘Bacterial meningitis is simply a life-threatening unwellness that tin onslaught abruptly and advancement rapidly.

‘While not everyone exposed to the bacteria becomes ill, adjacent contacts of idiosyncratic with meningitis are astatine higher hazard and whitethorn necessitate preventive antibiotics. Avoiding the sharing of idiosyncratic items and staying up to day with vaccinations tin assistance trim the hazard of transmission.

‘If you fishy meningitis, spot your instincts and question urgent aesculapian attention. Early diagnosis and attraction tin prevention lives.’

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