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What every parent
needs to know!
Meningitis, a word most parents fear.
However it is a well known fact that New Zealand is in
the grip of a 13 year Meningitis epidemic which has
killed over 220 people and affected many more. As parents
what do you need to know? What should you be looking out
for and who can you go to for support and information?
Although teenagers and children under
five years of age are most at risk meningitis can affect
anyone and making people aware of what Meningitis is and
how to identify the signs and symptoms is vital in the
battle against it.
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is inflammation of the
linings surrounding the brain and can be caused by
bacteria, viruses or fungus (bacterial and viral being
more common) Viral Meningitis is the most prevalent,
however is rarely life threatening.
Bacterial Meningitis
on the other hand can prove to be fatal and requires
urgent treatment with antibiotics. It is predominantly caused by
meningococcal bacteria but can be caused by pneumococcal, Hib and TB bacteria. There are a number of
different strains of Meningococcal Bacteria (A, B, C W135 and Y) but in New
Zealand it is a strain of Meningococcal B that accounts
for up to 90% of all Meningitis cases.
Since 1991 there have been
5,600 cases of the disease and over 220 fatalities which
are increasing as the weeks go by. Meningitis and
Meningococcal Disease kill, sometimes in a matter of
hours. With up to 700 new cases each year up to 4% will
die and over 20% will be left with long term effects
such as having to have a limb amputated, loss of hearing
and vision impairment. Knowing what to look for is
critical as early identification can save someone’s
life.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Meningitis and Meningococcal Disease can be very
difficult to spot at first, as the symptoms can be similar to
those of flu. It may develop over one or two days but can also
develop in a matter of hours.
Symptoms of Meningitis do not appear in any
particular order and some may not appear at all. The signs
include fever, vomiting, headache, rash, stiff neck, young
children refusing food or drinks, high pitched crying from
babies, sleepiness and joint pain. Anyone with suspected
meningococcal disease symptoms should go to a doctor
immediately.
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