Rosie Scribble

Learning about meningitis could save your child's life

Imagine if you could write a blog post that could one day save a life. This one just might.

It’s easy to click away from a distressing subject like meningitis, but once you discover that it can affect anyone at any age, that early intervention is crucial and that recognising the symptoms of meningitis could save your child’s life, then it’s worth spending just a few minutes learning more about the condition.

In addition, several misconceptions surround the disease which can confuse parents. It is also a difficult  disease to diagnose. As we know our children better than anyone else we play a crucial role in ensuring they get prompt treatment if we are able to recognise the symptoms. There is support and information is available via websites, via smart phone apps and if you leave a comment or query on this post it will be read by key figures from the three UK meningitis charities and, where possible, a response will be provided.

Meningitis is a terrifying disease that can progress rapidly and kill within hours. It is also a disease that parents often prefer not to think about. Having spent a day at the Novartis Meningitis Bloggers’ Forum listening to Dr Rob Hicks and representatives from the three UK meningitis charities discuss the disease and the devastating impact it can have on families, there is some important information I would like to pass on in the hope it will help others, and in the hope that you will spread the word.

Let’s hope we never need to draw on this information. But one day we might.

What is meningitis and is my child protected against the disease?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is caused when germs infect the fluid which circulates around the brain and spinal cord. No one is fully protected against meningitis even if they have been vaccinated. 51% of UK parents think their children fully protected as they have been vaccinated. This is not the case.

Meningitis can be caused by three kinds of germs: viruses, fungi and bacteria. Viral meningitis is the most common and less severe type. Fungi cause severe infections but cases are much less frequent. Bacterial meningitis causes severe infections, which may lead to permanent disability or death.

Neisseria meningitides (or meningococcal disease) is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis, and causes over 50% of cases in the UK. Of the five groups of bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, group B is currently responsible for around 90% of cases. There is no vaccine for this strain of meningitis at present.

Who is at risk and what are the symptoms of meningitis?

While 50% of cases occur in children under five years old, anyone can contract meningitis. As well as young children, at risk groups include university students and travellers to endemic areas like military personnel.

Meningitis symptoms in babies and toddlers

• Fever, cold hands and cold feet
• Pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin (the glass test)
• Refusing food and vomiting
• Unusual cry, moaning
• Fretful, dislike being handled
• Tense, bulging fontanelle
• Drowsy, floppy and unresponsive
• Neck stiffness, dislike bright lights
• Rapid breathing or grunting
• Convulsions/seizures

Meningitis symptoms in children and adults

• Fever, cold hands and feet
• Pale blotchy skin, spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin (the glass test)
• Vomiting
• Severe headache
• Drowsy, difficult to wake
• Stiff neck
• Confusion and irritability
• Dislike bright lights
• Severe muscle pain
• Convulsions/seizures

Further information relating to the symptoms of meningitis is available at: www.meningitis-trust.org/symptoms.

The Meningitis Trust has developed a meningitis app for iphone and android phone which lists the full set of symptoms. It is available for download at: www.meningitisapp.co.uk

Do not wait for the rash.

A rash can appear late or not at all. Children have died because their parents believed they could not have meningitis because they did not have a rash. The rash is a sign of septicaemia and might never appear.

Why is meningitis difficult to diagnose?

Early symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea and muscle pain can easily mistaken for common illnesses like flu, so be aware of all the signs and symptoms – they can appear in any order and some might not appear at all.

GPs in the UK only see an average of two cases of meningitis in their career, so it is not a disease they will have a great deal of experience in diagnosing. Trust your instincts, you know your child best. Seek help if you are concerned and be persistent if it is not forthcoming. You are your child’s advocate so battle on their behalf until they are seen. 

Monitor your child as symptoms can progress quickly. Children have died because they have been put to bed and no-one knew to monitor them through the night.

If you suspect your child has meningitis or septicaemia, get medical help immediately. State that you think your child might have meningitis. You can:

1. Call NHS Direct/NHS 24 or your GP
2. Go to your nearest accident and emergency department
3. Dial 999 for an ambulance

Further information and support is available from:

Meningitis Trust - The focus of their work is to reach and improve the lives of everyone affected by meningitis and minimum the impact of the disease.

Meningitis UK - They have a single focus - to find a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis and associated diseases.

The Meningitis Research Foundation - They fund research, raise awareness and support those affected by meningitis. They are currently running a Counting the Cost Campaign and are keen for people to sign their petition.

Novartis paid my expenses plus a small fee to attend the bloggers’ meningitis forum.

On kids, alcohol and single mothers

As a single mother I will jump to the defence of single mothers everywhere if I sense a whiff of criticism aimed unjustly in our direction. We represent a sector of society that is so easily scapegoated and so regularly stereotyped by people who fail to understand that mothers who are parenting alone are doing so for a variety of different reasons and, in the large majority of cases, we are putting our children first, doing the very best we can and doing a damn good job.

Attending an event recently about children and alcohol, I heard someone ask what percentage of underage drinkers have single mothers and, it would seem, make the assumption that such women would find it difficult to tackle the issue of underage drinking without an authoritative father figure in the house.

I sensed more than a whiff of criticism and felt the need to raise my hand and state that I am educating my child about alcohol and that I have developed strong lines of communication with my daughter, which I think will make these sorts of difficult conversations easier. And I am also a single mother.

The effects of advertisements on our children

I have a confident, cheeky, happy eight-year-old daughter who beamed with pride as she stood in front of the whole school and demonstrated her spelling skills during her recent Year 4 assembly.

She’s growing up, changing, maturing and the teenage years are looming in front of us, approaching faster than I would like.

I don’t want to see that confidence undermined or eroded away. I don’t want her questioning her appearance, her size, her value in this world.

With the increasing number of advertisements targeting her as she grows older, I question how I can ever counteract the powerful messages they are sending out. Messages that are telling her she needs to be perfect when she’s exactly right as she is.

This video posted by Killers of Confidence looks at the messages being given out by the hundreds of advertisements that target young people and the effect they can have on their image and self-esteem. 

Advertisements that tell girls they should be tall, skinny, tanned, pretty and rich. Advertisements that tell boys they should be tall, dark, handsome, tough, muscular and protective. Advertisements that promote perfection, as if it is achievable, as if it is the only thing that matters in life, as if our children need to change who they are and the people they are growing up to be.

The video is over a year old but the message is just as powerful, and just as necessary.

It takes confidence, determination, drive and a strong sense of self-belief to override these messages. It shouldn’t be that way. Let children be themselves and be whoever they want to be.

This post is inspired by Kat’s post: Dear So and So – Miss Respresentation.

If it was your child

    If it was your child you’d think differently.

If it was your child you’d make a stand.

If it was your child it would make you angry.

If it was your child you simply wouldn’t tolerate this.

If it was your child you’d move heaven and earth.

Children across the developing world are dying because of a lack of health workers.

It’s not your child, but it’s somebody’s child.

You can make a difference today.

Sign the petition.

If you want to do more, then take part in the 100 word challenge.

And use the #healthworkers hashtag on Twitter.

I've signed, have you?

Photo credit: Save the children.

Why we're walking for water

We’ve travelled from Nottinghamshire to London then on to Eastbourne to spend the morning walking around the South Downs. An epic journey in itself but for a very good cause. We’re taking part in the 2011 Coast Along walk for WaterAid, and here’s why:

One in eight of the world’s population do not have access to water and almost 40% of the world’s population do not have adequate sanitation. Yet water is essential for life and something many of us take for granted.