Fresh bid to cut deaths by meningitis in Scotland

Published on Wednesday 28 May 2008 10:21

FRESH guidelines have been issued to doctors on how to save the lives of Scottish youngsters with meningitis.

The new instructions place further emphasis on early diagnosis of the disease, particularly among children and young people, saying it is key to stopping potentially fatal condition in its tracks.

It is said to be the most comprehensive review into the treatment of meningitis ever to have taken place in Scotland.

Citing statistics which show most meningitis deaths occur within the first 24 hours of the infection taking hold, the NHS said a number of measures should be introduce to catch the disease sooner.

Invasive Meningococcal Disease – which can cause both meningitis and septicaemia – is still a reasonably significant cause of death among children and young people in Scotland, though the number of cases have fallen to 140-160 each year.

Around 10 per cent of those who contract the disease each year die, with most deaths occurring within the first 24 hours, often before patients receive specialist care.

Health experts said that the geography and population distribution in Scotland made it necessary to develop guidelines which would ensure the most effective treatment from the Scottish Health Service.

Dr David Simpson, consultant in Paediatric Anaesthesia and Intensive Care at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, said the guidelines could help reduce the number of deaths.

He said: "This is an important guideline that gathers together the best current evidence on early recognition, diagnosis and treatment. Early diagnosis and intervention is the key to ensuring successful treatment and a full recovery.

"Although this guideline will not eradicate mortality, adherence will increase the likelihood of a positive outcome and we can hopefully begin to see a significant fall in the number of deaths and disabilities associated with this disease."

The publication, entitled Management of invasive Meningococcal disease in children and young people – a national clinical guideline, is seen as the most comprehensive review to date of the evidence on how best to diagnose and treat meningitis.

It is published by the NHS' Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. The guideline focuses on early assessment and treatment of the condition, hospital care and follow-up care and prevention of its transmission.

The guideline said it is "vital" to ensure effective communication between primary, secondary and paediatric intensive care to ensure rapid treatment in the early phase of the disease.

This includes the administration of antibiotics as soon as the disease is suspected, and early assessment and supervision by senior clinicians.