Meningitis: symptoms you may not know

SEVEN in ten parents wrongly think the current vaccines for meningitis protect their children from all forms of the disease, experts have warned.

And just one in five parents is aware children under 12 months are at most risk of developing the potentially fatal illness.

Now a campaign is being launched to highlight the lesser-known symptoms of the illness – including numbness and jerky movements – which is contracted by around 255 people in Scotland every year. One in ten dies and half the survivors are left with severe brain damage, amputations and hearing loss.

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The “Meningitis: Keep Watching” campaign is designed to highlight how a rash on the skin and a sensitivity to light are just two possible symptoms.

The campaign – a joint 
initiative between the charities Meningitis Research Foundation, Meningitis Trust and Meningitis UK – includes awareness drives such as a short film to be screened at Scottish cinemas to show children are not protected against all types of meningitis.

The charities say the lack of knowledge has led to parents missing the symptoms and 
delays in them seeking advice.

Dr Nelly Ninis, the campaign’s consultant paediatrician, said: “Meningitis can maim and kill within hours so parents need to be aware that this disease is still a real threat to their children.

Vaccination is the only way to protect children against meningitis but current vaccinations do not provide protection against all types of the disease. So it is important to know the symptoms and seek urgent medical advice if they suspect a child has it.” Since 1999, all babies in the UK get the Meningitis C 
vaccine and when they are aged between two and five they are vaccinated for other causes of meningitis with pneumococcal and “Hib” vaccines. However, children are not protected against other forms of the illness, including Group B meningococcal bacteria, which is the cause of most bacterial cases in the UK.

Meningitis is usually caused by bacteria or viruses and 
occasionally fungal infections. It mainly affects under-fives and people aged between 15 and 23.

A campaign spokeswoman said: “Most people know about the ‘glass test’, when a rash that does not fade under pressure, is a sign of meningococcal 
septicaemia and anyone with it needs emergency treatment. “But we found the majority of 
people were unaware of the many other symptoms. 
“Someone does not need to have a rash to have meningitis.”

Other lesser-known symptoms of meningitis are headaches, vomiting, numbness, fever, joint pain, a stiff neck and disorientation.

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Younger children may refuse to eat, have a stiff body with jerky movements or seem floppy, and have a soft spot on their head.

Many of the symptoms of the illness are similar to that of the flu.Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord which can lead to Septicaemia, a blood poisoning form of the disease. They are both deadly diseases which can kill someone in hours.

The campaign has been backed by double Olympic sailing gold medallist Sarah Ayton who fell ill with the meningitis when she was younger.

She said: “As a survivor of meningitis, I know just how fast this deadly disease can strike. Everyone needs to know the symptoms of meningitis so they can seek medical help quickly. Acting fast saved my life and allowed me to achieve my dreams.”

Case study: Tragic Calum was fighting for life two hours after first signs

Kim Macleod lost her beloved son Calum to meningitis when he was aged just 12, writes Natalie Walker.

It took just two hours from him feeling “a little unwell” until he was left battling for life in intensive care in October 2007.

Mrs Macleod, 46, of Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, said: “Calum had a throat infection which floored him for a few days but he was back at school and seemed OK when he complained of a sore head.

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“We rang NHS 24 and then took him to hospital which is five minutes away.

“Before we even got there he said he couldn’t feel his hands and feet.

“By the time we got to the hospital, he couldn’t walk from the car.

“We then had to drive to Glasgow’s Sick Children Hospital at Yorkhill and by the time we were there he was delirious. Minutes later he was on a ventilator on life support.”

The schoolboy died two days later having never regained consciousness. He had only suffered flu-like symptoms, a sore head and numbness and had no rash.

Mrs Macleod said: “I knew the glass test but had no idea about any of the other signs. The more people know about this illness the sooner people can get the help they need to try and save a life.

“I don’t want any other family to go through what we have.”

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