Meningitis

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Mindy and I were fortunate to go to a talk organised by our local twins club about meningitis. These are the main points I took away from the meeting.

More info can be found at the meningitis trust: www.meningitis-trust.org.uk

1 / 20,000 chance of catching

6x more likely if you live with a smoker

viral meningitis

	very nasty illness
	rarely fatal

bacterial

serious illness - can be fatal if not treated

progresses very quickly

act if you suspect - insist on being treated

two main strains in this country B & C (vaccine is against meningitis-C)

commonly carried in the population at large

spread by kissing / very close contact

generally pretty hard to catch

early symptoms can be flue-like (headache, aversion to light, low fever)

later symptoms can include

	rash which spreads rapidly, starts anywhere, can't be blanched, this is an indication of the onset of septicaemia
	neck pain (increased distress when held)

treatment is an emergency injection of antibiotics

don't wait for the rash - your child can die before it appears