Meningitis in children and infants

Meningitis and septicemia in newborns and children

Every year there are about 3300 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicemia in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. Those at highest risk are infants and children, as they are more susceptible to infection due to their immune system from developing.

The only way to help prevent meningitis vaccination is. However, while vaccinations will help reduce the number of children contracting meningitis or septicaemia, does not eliminate the risk entirely.

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround the lining around the brain and spinal cord. Inflammation is usually as a direct consequence of viral infection or bacterial infection, however, inflammation can also be caused by other complications such as cancer.

Viral meningitis is almost never life threatening. However, if not treated quickly, people can suffer from a variety of different after effects.

Bacterial meningitis can be life is more difficult to treat and menacing.

Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood resulting in blood poisoning. Commonly septicemia will result from meningitis. Septicemia develops quickly and can be life threatening.

You can have both meningitis and septicaemia, while at the same time, or have both diseases separately.

Meningococcal bacteria are causing the majority of cases in the United Kingdom and in Ireland. Meningococcal bacteria can cause both meningitis and septicaemia.

The common symptoms to be aware of include:
• Tense or bulging soft spot in children
• High temperature/fever
• Very sleepy/staring/expression too sleepy to wake up
• Vomiting/refusing to feed
• Irritable, when, with a high pitch screaming or moaning
Fast/respiratory difficulty breathing
• Blotchy skin, pale or increasingly turning blue
Extreme thrills
Hard body • with jerky movements, or more floppy/unanimated
• ‘ Pin ‘ Cock eruption/purple bruises or marks on the body
Cold hands and feet
• Diarrhoea
Urination/limb joint irritability from muscle pain or severe pain
• Rash (which can occur anywhere on the body)
• Confusion
• Complaining of a severe headache
• Dislike of lights

The bacterium causes septicaemic rash. The rash can appear as a small red or brown spots on the skin, however these may change in large red or purple spots. The child may not have all of these symptoms and a rash does not occur in every case.

Rash testing-if you take a glass and press firmly against the septicaemic rash, no marks will fade and the rash will be visible through the glass.

If this is the case, then you should seek medical attention immediately.

Time is of the essence in treating meningitis or sepsis. Often the most common symptoms of meningitis or sepsis can be mistaken for a cold or flu. Amato is seriously ill, be persistent or trust your instincts if you feel your child.

There are several side effects of meningitis and septicemia, which can be temporary or permanent. Some examples:
Memory loss
• Clumsiness
• Headaches
• Dizziness
Fix customizable
• Epilepsy
• Paralysis
Cerebral paralysis
• Brain damage
• Slight loss
• Speech loss
• Scarring
• Kidney damage
• Lung damage
• Amputations

If you think that you or your loved one’s symptoms went unnoticed or that your concerns were not taken on board by the medical staff, so you need to speak with an attorney who can provide advice and guidance should you wish to pursue a clinical negligence claim.