Signs and symptoms
Meningitis and Septicaemia (blood poisoning) are not always easy to recognize, and symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all. In the early stages, the signs and symptoms can be similar to many other more common illnesses, for example flu.
Trust your instincts. If you suspect meningitis or septicaemia, get medical help immediately.
Early symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), and muscle pain, with cold hands and feet.
A rash that does not fade under pressure (see ‘The Glass Test’) is a sign of meningococcal septicaemia. This rash may begin as a few small spots anywhere on the body and can spread quickly to look like fresh bruises.
The spots or rash are caused by blood leaking into the tissues under the skin. They are more difficult to see on darker skin, so look on paler areas of the skin and under the eyelids. The spots or rash may fade at first, so keep checking.
However, if someone is ill or is obviously getting worse, do not wait for spots or a rash to appear. They may appear late or may not appear at all.
The above is from the "Meningitis Trust."
Our family has recently had dealings with this disease, and I felt that I should post this information with the hopes that someone might benefit from knowing the signs and symptoms of Meningitis and be able to seek help quickly if a loved one should develop this illness. Fortunately, our family member is on the road to recovery, but it has been quite a struggle for her, and a tremendous worry for those who care about her. Early detection and quick response is essential.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis & founder/executive director of Meningitis Angels. www.meningitis-angels.org .
ReplyDeleteWhat parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.
Knowing the early signs of meningitis & blood poisoning can improve detection of the disease & save lives? They are Unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands & feet & abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness
Children in daycare & those of American Indian, Eskimo & African American heritage are at a higher risk for pneumococcal & HIB.
Visit the AAP, sound Advice on Vaccines: http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/soundadvice.html
Help Stop Meningitis!
Please join our cause and feature on your face book page. http://apps.facebook.com/causes/103719/35941843?m=6d54c0aa
Thank you for posting. My heart goes out to you and I applaud you for working beyond your pain to help others.
ReplyDeleteWell done for passing on this info. I wouldn't have been able to recognise it myself.
ReplyDeleteI see that you recently had pneumonia, probably following swine flu. I recently contracted swine flu, according to my GP, but it didn't proceed to complications - luckily because I had previously had pneumonia four times and have a chronic chest problem. The doc thought it was because I'd had the inoculation for swine flu 13 days before and, although it apparently does not take full effect for 14, the illness was diminished. Fortunate eh?
June in Oz
Hi June!
ReplyDeleteYou are very fortunate. I am better now though I still have to use and inhaler at times. It is a nasty nasty bug! Glad to hear that you were not too ill!
My son died from spinal meningitis when he was 13 months old. He got sick in the afternoon and died that very night. It was a long time ago. We never knew where or how he contracted it, but another child the same age I cared for got it, probably from him, and recovered with no ill effects, because they knew what she had.
ReplyDeleteSuch sad stories...sigh. Annie is on the mend but has a long way to go....
ReplyDelete