Children and young people are most at risk from meningitis at this time of the year, the mother of a Southend teenager who died from the disease warned.

Gwen Pepper, whose son Matthew died seven years ago, said yesterday (Monday) she gave her full backing to a new campaign aimed at raising awareness about the often fatal disease.

Statistics show that cases of meningitis and septicaemia - the blood poisoning form of the disease - are at a 50-year high in the UK. Babies, children and anyone up to their early 20s are most susceptible.

She said: "I know how it can devastate a family but I also realise how little people know about it.

"I hope this campaign will make a difference. It could even save a life."

Mrs Pepper, 51, of Marlborough Road, Southend, lost her son to meningococcal septicaemia in 1993 when he was just 19.

She said the tragedy hit the family hard because it was so sudden. She added: "One day he was playing football, the next evening he was in coma in hospital and five days later he was dead."

The Meningitis Research Foundation has launched its baby watch awareness campaign and published figures which show cases have more than doubled from 1,362 to 2,973 in the ten years since 1989.

Mrs Pepper said: "This is the worst time of year for people to catch it.

"The problem is the symptoms can be similar to flu so people need to be aware of what to look for."

She added: "Matthew was playing football one day. He was really fit. Then the next morning he woke complaining of feeling ill.

"In the evening he was vomiting and we took him to the hospital. He died five days later."

The Meningitis Research Foundation operates a 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344.

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