A family wants to raise awareness of the illness which hospitalised their daughter and encourage people to talk about the dangers associated with it.

Shirali Patel, from Harrow, was struck down with meningococcal W septicaemia in December last year – a deadly disease which can often result in fatalities.

Fortunately, she made a full recovery but, at the time she was admitted to hospital after becoming seriously ill, her parents were told that she had little chance of survival.

Her ordeal could have been avoided had she received an important vaccine against meningitis before going off to study at the University of Cambridge.

But her parents explained how they had no knowledge of the vaccine and they want as many people as possible to learn from their experience and book an appointment for it.

Shirali’s father, Dee, said: “Thanks to the quick treatment she received in hospital she pulled through and she was able to leave hospital a month later.

“We feel very lucky that she has made a good recovery. She’s had to defer university for a year while she recovers but this is a small price to pay.

“I don’t think parents are being given enough information about how dangerous this disease is.

“Teenagers my daughter’s age should be getting the MenACWY vaccine from their GP, but uptake of the vaccine has been worryingly low.

“My daughter was one of those teenagers who should have got her vaccine from the GP, but didn’t.

“If other parents knew what I know now, they would all check whether their kids are eligible to get the free MenACWY vaccine and book them an appointment as soon as possible so they can stop this happening to them too.”

Shirali is studying at the University of Cambridge

Ealing Times: Shirali is studying medicine at the University of CambridgeShirali is studying medicine at the University of Cambridge

Teenagers are a high risk age group for meningitis and septicaemia, while university freshers are particularly at risk because they mix with so many other students, some of whom are unknowingly carrying the bacteria.

Vinny Smith, chief executive of meningitis research foundation, explained how it is vital that young people check their eligibility for receiving the vaccine and, if they haven’t already had it, get themselves booked in.

He added that it is equally important to take care of each other and look out for signs of rapidly worsening illnesses that could prove fatal.  

He said: “It’s important to remember that this vaccine doesn’t prevent all types of meningitis, so it’s vital for students away from home to watch out for their friends if they’re unwell.

“If they have meningitis it can be like a very bad hangover that quickly gets worse. It can be deadly, so act fast and get medical help.”

For more information, visit www.meningitis.org