She mistook a hangover for a deadly disease – the story of a British woman

An 18-year-old student from Cardiff, Elle Black, mistook the symptoms of sepsis for a hangover after a party. Her condition rapidly deteriorated: severe drowsiness, nausea, and temperature spikes. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with sepsis due to a peritonsillar abscess. Doctors warned that another 12 hours of delay could have been fatal.

An 18-year-old Cardiff University student, Elle Black, nearly died after mistaking the symptoms of sepsis for a hangover. After a party with friends where she watched matches of the Six Nations rugby tournament, the girl woke up with classic signs of a hangover. However, her condition rapidly worsened: severe drowsiness, inability to keep food down, temperature spikes, and sudden shifts between fever and chills. An online consultation with doctors raised suspicion of laryngitis, but she lacked the strength to go to the pharmacy. A few hours later, unbearable muscle pain set in. At the hospital, Elle immediately voiced her suspicion of sepsis. The doctors acted quickly: the examination took 15 minutes, and within half an hour, intravenous antibiotics were started. The diagnosis: sepsis due to a peritonsillar abscess, a complication of tonsillitis. The girl spent several days in the hospital. Doctors warned that another 12 hours of delay could have been fatal. After discharge, Elle felt deep exhaustion for several weeks. She now urges British universities to include information about sepsis in the curriculum for freshmen.