Dr Hilary meningitis signs warning as Jay Aston speaks of daughter's experience

AuthorKatie Williams
Published date16 June 2022
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
Jay's daughter Josie, 18, developed meningitis earlier in April this year and was rushed to hospital where she put in a coma

Jay became concerned when she noticed a small rash on the inside of Josie's arm which rapidly spread over her body. Earlier that day, Josie said she was feeling unwell and thought it was sunstroke after she had been sunbathing.

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Presenter Lorraine noted how in this terrifying circumstance, every minute counts and singer Jay emphasised how important it is to spot the symptoms early.

She already knew of the signs after her husband had contracted it years before.

Retelling her experience with the condition, Josie said: "If you're aware of the symptoms, you've got a chance. People can think it's a hangover. It's so quick and happens so fast, you can go downhill really quickly."

She said: "We thought it was sunstroke. I'd been sunbathing literally hours before. I started feeling a bit unwell, started shaking uncontrollably, couldn't for 45 minutes, and I'm starting to think this isn't normal.

"So I called mum up because she was out. I was like 'I'm really not normal' because I'd been shaking and because I was getting quite hot, and she was like 'Well that's sun stroke, isn't it?'.

"Then the temperature came on and mum was like 'Well that's not sun stroke'. Then we thought I had the flu.

"Then, come three o'clock in the morning I'd slept in mum's bed so she could keep an eye on me and stuff, and I just didn't want to move, and I had three tiny dots in the inside of my arm.

"And that's when we realised…"

Jay rushed her daughter to hospital where the rash had spread, with an appearance of 'Dalmatian-like' spots, with some varying in size.

The...

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