Since all the children are going back to school now I thought it would be a good idea to remind ourselves of some of the fact that surround Meningitis.
Meningitis is a very frightening disease and it can strike very quickly, causing someone to become very seriously ill within hours and if not treated successfully the disease can cause death and serious disability.

It does not discriminate and can affect anyone of any age or ethnic origin. Knowing the common symptoms is vital, as prompt medical treatment can mean the difference between life and death, although as children group together for school etc. it does seem to occur in schools and colleges more.

Meningitis is actually caused when the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord become inflamed, usually as a result of an infection. This infection is most usually caused by viruses or bacteria but I didn't realise until recently that it may also develop following a serious injury to the head or spine, or by a fungal infection. Although it can be very unpleasant, most people with viral meningitis make a full recovery within a couple of weeks.

Yes that is right and it is a good subject to discuss as I think there is a lot of fear and misunderstanding around this. It is true what you say but it should always be borne in mind that bacterial meningitis is more serious and life-threatening and always requires urgent medical treatment. The disease can strike with incredible speed and can kill a victim or can cause permanent disability with loss of limbs, blindness, deafness and brain damage.

Bacterial meningitis is actually caused by range of different bacteria. The most common form of bacterium in the UK is the meningitis, which is most commonly seen in children under the age of five and in young adults aged 15-25. These bacteria occur normally in our bodies and live harmlessly at the back of the nose and throat and they can actually be found in around 10% of the population at any one time. The bacteria can only be passed from person to person by kissing or sneezing and even then, are usually unlikely to cause problems, as most people have a natural resistance to the bacteria.

It is true thought that in some cases, the bacteria go beyond colonisation, and cross into the bloodstream to cause serious disease. The bacteria can cause two distinct forms of the disease - meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).

A major problem with bacterial meningitis is that the symptoms are often mistaken for the common flu and as a lot of outbreaks tend to be in the winter months, this mistake is compounded but the fact that there is also a lot of flu around in the winter months. Tragically this can sometimes mean that by the time the patient is diagnosed it can be too late to save them. Usually the first symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia are classic flu-like symptoms with a high temperature, and headache, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting, or aching joints. Other signs of meningitis can include stiffness in the neck and an intolerance of bright light, whilst the clearest symptom of septicaemia is a pinprick rash which can be identified by the simple tumbler test, where you press tumbler on the rash and if it does not blanch or disappear it could mean the person has meningitis.
However, many patients show these more specific symptoms too late or not at all, which makes the disease very difficult to diagnose. This, in addition to the incredible speed by which the disease strikes, is why many believe that the only way to truly eradicate the disease is through prevention.

I think all of us have heard stories of people who thought that their child had meningitis or at least something seriously wrong and were told not to worry by well meaning medical staff. I think that every parent knows their own child and while I can see how an anxious parent could imagine all sorts with a child and perhaps hit the panic button too often, I think the main thing is to remember to FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS AND ACT FAST. If you think something is wrong, GO IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR NEAREST DOCTOR OR CASUALTY UNIT.

I would go so far as to say that it would be best just to go straight to the hospital as that is where you will end up if you go via your doctor and your child has meneigitis and this detour may cost valuable time and even a child's life.