A 17-year-old boy’s sudden illness and death after a night out has brought renewed attention to the dangers of meningococcal disease, a contagious infection that is currently spreading in the United Kingdom.
Mathias, 17, died from complications of meningococcal disease.
Photo: Private.
Mathias’s mother, Christine.
Photo: Private.
Two young women in Kent, United Kingdom, have died from meningococcal disease, and 27 cases have been reported, with the number continuing to rise, according to the BBC. This outbreak underscores the importance of recognizing the symptoms of this potentially deadly infection.
Christine Bennborn’s son, Mathias, became ill with meningococcal disease in 2019 and died before she or medical professionals understood the severity of his condition.
“The doctors said it was the flu,” Christine said.
Fever Over 104°F and Vomiting
Following an evening out in the summer of 2019, 17-year-old Mathias woke up feeling tired and unwell. Christine, thinking it was nothing serious, sent him back to bed.
Hours later, Mathias developed a fever. The family went to the local health center because Mathias was concerned about a tick bite he’d received a few days earlier and suspected he might have tick-borne encephalitis.
“At the health center, he had a fever over 104°F and was vomiting. He complained of body aches,” Christine explained.
The next day, Mathias appeared to be feeling better, was up and about, and had an appetite. Although, his condition rapidly deteriorated again.
When Christine returned home that day, she found her son unconscious on the bathroom floor.
“He was almost completely unconscious.”
Died Two Weeks Before His 18th Birthday
When Mathias stopped breathing, Christine began CPR. An ambulance was called, but paramedics were unable to revive him.
“He died in front of us. They couldn’t get his heart started again.”
Neither Christine nor the ambulance personnel initially recognized that Mathias was suffering from meningococcal disease.
Christine found her son unconscious on the bathroom floor.
Photo: Private.
Doctors initially thought Mathias had the flu.
Photo: Private.
Recent Cases in Kent Spark Memories
The recent cases in Kent have brought back painful memories for Christine.
“It’s a real flashback, to be honest. You realize how terrible it is for the families affected,” she said.
The year after her son’s death, Christine founded the Meningococcal Foundation to raise awareness about the disease.
“When this happened in 2019, almost no one knew what Mathias had. Knowledge about meningococcal disease has improved since then, but not enough.”
