http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co...swine-flu/article-1693384-detail/article.html
Meningitis Trust issues warning over swine flu
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 07:04
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Don't let a preoccupation with swine flu mean a potentially much more deadly threat is missed, is the message from a Gloucestershire charity.
The Meningitis Trust is urging people to stay alert for the symptoms of the disease and not just put early signs down to the headline-grabbing swine flu virus.
With 60 per cent of the most serious bacterial types of meningitis occurring in winter, the Stroud-based charity said it is particularly important to remain vigilant.
Parents are being urged to bear the disease in mind if their children start showing symptoms, particularly after the recent tragic death of three children in Ipswich from suspected meningitis.
Chief executive of the Trust, Sue Davie, said: ?Unfortunately, this news comes at a time when we see more cases of bacterial meningitis occur, and with last year?s fascination with swine flu still fresh in people?s minds, it?s more important than ever for people to remain vigilant of the symptoms of meningitis and to act quickly if concerned.
?Meningitis strikes quickly and can kill within hours. It requires prompt medical action, and failure to do so could cost lives.?
She said when swine flu first broke out there were a few cases where meningitis was misdiagnosed as swine flu, although this was not in Gloucestershire.
?Swine flu was what everyone was talking about and health professionals to a certain extent and people themselves were thinking it?s got to be swine flu and were not taking action. In some instances, we know of some people sent home with meningitis having been wrongly diagnosed with swine flu. All the early signs of meningitis are very swine flu like.?
With current guidance being for people with flu-like symptoms to stay away from Accident and Emergency, Mrs Davie is urging people to make an exception if they suspect meningitis and to trust their instincts.
She said: ?We understand why people with swine flu-like symptoms are being told to not go to A&E but if people are rapidly deteriorating or there are any telltale signs, then get urgent medical help. Trust your instincts ? particularly parents, nobody knows children better than their parents.?
Mum Philippa Robb is urging parents to trust their instincts if they suspect their child may have meningitis.
Mrs Robb?s daughter Freya had Meningitis B, one of the most dangerous strains, when she was just 11 months old. She started fitting and spent a week in intensive care.
Although Freya, who fully recovered and is now eight, did not show any of the classic symptoms, her mum knew something was wrong.
Mrs Robb, of Burleigh, near Stroud, said: ?She was being sick but with meningitis the hands and feet can be very cold but hers were boiling and she didn?t necessarily have an obvious temperature.
?But just because of how she was I knew something was definitely not right.?
She is urging parents to act quickly if they suspect meningitis.
She said: ?Don?t wait for the rash. Freya didn?t develop the rash until really late on. Get them to hospital or a doctor really quickly. The A & E department gave Freya penicillin straight away which was the thing which saved her.?
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia ? known as blood poisoning ? can affect anyone at any time and can kill fast. For information, visit www.meningitis-trust.org.
Meningitis ? the facts
Signs and symptoms for babies and toddlers:
Meningitis
Fever
Refusing food or vomiting
Fretful, dislike of being handled
Pale blotchy skin
Listless, unresponsive
Drowsy, difficult to wake
Unusual high-pitched cry, moaning
Septicaemia
Fever, cold hands and feet
Refusing food or vomiting
Pale blotchy skin
Spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure
Floppy, listless, unresponsive
Rapid breathing or grunting
Drowsy, difficult to wake
What about the rash?
A rash that does not fade under pressure is a sign of meningococcal septicaemia.
The 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.
The spots or rash are more difficult to see on darker skin. Look on paler areas of the skin and under the eyelids.
A fever with spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.
The glass test ? spots or a rash that do not fade under pressure will still be seen when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin.
Meningitis Trust issues warning over swine flu
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 07:04
Comment on this story
Don't let a preoccupation with swine flu mean a potentially much more deadly threat is missed, is the message from a Gloucestershire charity.
The Meningitis Trust is urging people to stay alert for the symptoms of the disease and not just put early signs down to the headline-grabbing swine flu virus.
With 60 per cent of the most serious bacterial types of meningitis occurring in winter, the Stroud-based charity said it is particularly important to remain vigilant.
Parents are being urged to bear the disease in mind if their children start showing symptoms, particularly after the recent tragic death of three children in Ipswich from suspected meningitis.
Chief executive of the Trust, Sue Davie, said: ?Unfortunately, this news comes at a time when we see more cases of bacterial meningitis occur, and with last year?s fascination with swine flu still fresh in people?s minds, it?s more important than ever for people to remain vigilant of the symptoms of meningitis and to act quickly if concerned.
?Meningitis strikes quickly and can kill within hours. It requires prompt medical action, and failure to do so could cost lives.?
She said when swine flu first broke out there were a few cases where meningitis was misdiagnosed as swine flu, although this was not in Gloucestershire.
?Swine flu was what everyone was talking about and health professionals to a certain extent and people themselves were thinking it?s got to be swine flu and were not taking action. In some instances, we know of some people sent home with meningitis having been wrongly diagnosed with swine flu. All the early signs of meningitis are very swine flu like.?
With current guidance being for people with flu-like symptoms to stay away from Accident and Emergency, Mrs Davie is urging people to make an exception if they suspect meningitis and to trust their instincts.
She said: ?We understand why people with swine flu-like symptoms are being told to not go to A&E but if people are rapidly deteriorating or there are any telltale signs, then get urgent medical help. Trust your instincts ? particularly parents, nobody knows children better than their parents.?
Mum Philippa Robb is urging parents to trust their instincts if they suspect their child may have meningitis.
Mrs Robb?s daughter Freya had Meningitis B, one of the most dangerous strains, when she was just 11 months old. She started fitting and spent a week in intensive care.
Although Freya, who fully recovered and is now eight, did not show any of the classic symptoms, her mum knew something was wrong.
Mrs Robb, of Burleigh, near Stroud, said: ?She was being sick but with meningitis the hands and feet can be very cold but hers were boiling and she didn?t necessarily have an obvious temperature.
?But just because of how she was I knew something was definitely not right.?
She is urging parents to act quickly if they suspect meningitis.
She said: ?Don?t wait for the rash. Freya didn?t develop the rash until really late on. Get them to hospital or a doctor really quickly. The A & E department gave Freya penicillin straight away which was the thing which saved her.?
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia ? known as blood poisoning ? can affect anyone at any time and can kill fast. For information, visit www.meningitis-trust.org.
Meningitis ? the facts
Signs and symptoms for babies and toddlers:
Meningitis
Fever
Refusing food or vomiting
Fretful, dislike of being handled
Pale blotchy skin
Listless, unresponsive
Drowsy, difficult to wake
Unusual high-pitched cry, moaning
Septicaemia
Fever, cold hands and feet
Refusing food or vomiting
Pale blotchy skin
Spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure
Floppy, listless, unresponsive
Rapid breathing or grunting
Drowsy, difficult to wake
What about the rash?
A rash that does not fade under pressure is a sign of meningococcal septicaemia.
The 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.
The spots or rash are more difficult to see on darker skin. Look on paler areas of the skin and under the eyelids.
A fever with spots or a rash that does not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.
The glass test ? spots or a rash that do not fade under pressure will still be seen when the side of a clear drinking glass is pressed firmly against the skin.