Meningitis: The signs to watch for
From the archive, first published Monday 11th Sep 2006.
AFTER the tragic death of two-year-old Ripley Hewitt - who died just hours after his mother was told by a doctor to give him Calpol and send him to bed - parents' fears over meningitis will not be lessened.
Ripley's mother Julie, who is a history student at the University of Bolton, described her son's death as "a living nightmare", and wants to make sure that other families are aware of the symptoms of meningitis, so the same thing does not happen to them.
Meningitis Awareness Week runs from September 18 to September 24, so there will be plenty of information on hand for parents.
A rash is the best-known symptom of meningitis, but it is not the only sign that parents should be on the look-out for.
Meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning) affect 3,000 people a year in the UK, and cause 300 deaths - half of which are in the under-fives.
There are a number of earlier, less well-known pointers, and the Meningitis Research Foundation is highlighting these "Red Flag" symptoms during Meningitis Awareness Week. They are cold hands and feet, limb pain, and pale or mottled skin.
Such symptoms typically occur five to eight hours before the classic symptoms of a rash, neck stiffness and impaired consciousness.
The foundation's chief executive, Denise Vaughan, says: "This disease can progress so fast that within a few hours of the initial symptoms, a previously healthy child could be in intensive care fighting for their life.
"During our Awareness Week, we aim to save lives by alerting people to the Red Flag symptoms and encouraging them to get symptoms information from our helpline. Early diagnosis is crucial."
As well as the Red Flag symptoms, other signs of the disease include a severe headache, rash, fever, vomiting, drowsiness and seizures. While a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights are also symptoms, they are unusual in young children.
In babies, symptoms can include tense or bulging fontanelle (the soft gap between the bones of a baby's skull), getting paler or turning blue, refusing to feed, and crying.
There are vaccines which protect against some, but not all, forms of the diseases, and this month a vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis has been introduced into the UK's childhood immunisation programme.
Pneumococcal meningitis is more life-threatening than other major types of meningitis, and leaves around half of survivors with permanent disabilities such as brain damage and deafness.
Since the vaccine's introduction in the US, cases of severe pneumococcal disease have dropped by 94 per cent in children under five. The vaccine will now be offered to all UK children under the age of two.
The family of another Bolton toddler who died from meningitis has publicly backed the vaccine scheme. Three-year-old Morgan Leyland died from the disease just weeks after returning from a family holiday in Spain almost four years ago.
Wendy Walsh, Morgan's aunt, said: "Even though the vaccine wouldn't have saved Morgan, anything that is done to raise awareness of meningitis is welcome."
Morgan's photograph has been chosen as part of a national campaign to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.
People are urged to donate their old mobile phones to the charity, which will receive £10 for each one.
Ms Vaughan said: "The foundation has been campaigning for many years for pneumococcal vaccine to be introduced into the UK childhood immunisation programme. We are delighted that it is now being introduced."
Young children and adolescents face the greatest risks of meningococcal disease, which can cause serious disability and death.
Meningitis Awareness Week begins on September 18. For more information about meningitis, visit www.meningitis.org.uk or call the Meningitis Research Foundation helpline on 080 8800 3344.
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