SEEMA JASWAL has opened up about the meningitis battle that left her in a coma.
The presenter, 41, fronts the BBC’s snooker coverage and has also hosted World Cup and Champions League football.
In addition to her brilliant professional exploits, Jaswal is also an ambassador for charity Meningitis Now – with the cause close to her heart.
The Londoner suffered with meningitis when she was just 16.
After initially being misdiagnosed with the flu she eventually fell into a coma as she received crucial treatment.
Having managed to make a full recovery, Jaswal felt grateful at receiving a “second chance” at life.
Speaking to the Mail about her experience, the popular presenter said: “I spent a couple of weeks in hospital and lost a lot of weight. I felt completely drained but being 16 I just wanted to get back to normal life. I was so lucky that I was able to do that.
“If you have Meningitis B, many people come out of it with something that could be long-lasting: a disability, you lose a limb, lose your sight or hearing. That happens to a lot of people.”
Following doctors’ initial misdiagnosis, Jaswal’s mother became convinced that something more serious was going on.
Struggling to deal with light, the teenage Jaswal was in crippling pain and even threw up bile.
On what her mum didnext, Jaswal added: “She called the ambulance. The paramedics came and took me to hospital. I don’t remember any of this part.
“I was in a coma for between 24 and 48 hours. My parents were told all of the worst things that might be the outcome.
“I cannot thank my mother enough for acting so quickly. The doctor himself said I had the flu. The signs can be very similar at the beginning to a flu. When you’re on the go non-stop, you just put it down to that.”
Jaswal also urged people to get checked if they don’t feel right.
On what to look out for, she added: “The signs and symptoms to learn are fever, a stiff neck, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, severe headaches.
“A lot of people think it’s the rash, but the rash happens last when you get to the stage where it gets into the blood. That’s really bad.
“There are lots of resources on the Meningitis Now website and Instagram to understand what it could be.”
