Public ‘must not drop guard in fight against meningitis’

THERE were 14 deaths from meningitis last year — up two on 2002 — a reminder we can never become complacent, Minister of State at the Department of Health Ivor Callely warned yesterday.

Mr Callely was speaking at the launch in Dublin the Meningitis Awareness Campaign, jointly organised by the Meningitis Research Foundation and Boots, to ensure that people do not lower their guard against the disease.

Provisional figures from the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) show there were 275 cases of bacterial meningitis reported last year, compared to 297 cases in 2002.

Of the bacterial meningitis notifications received by the NDSC last year only five were group C, for which there has been a vaccination available since 2000, resulting in a 96% reduction of the disease.

Group B meningitis accounts for the vast majority of cases reported to the NDSC and there is still no effective vaccine against it.

Of the 14 meningitis deaths, 10 were group B, and one was group C. One was were pneumococcal meningitis and two were other forms of meningitis.

The group C death is believed to be an elderly person who was not vaccinated against the disease.

Dr Hilary Jones, UTV’s breakfast time medic, now the face of the Meningitis Research Foundations’ information campaign, warned that pneumococcal meningitis was the second most common cause of bacterial meningitis in Ireland and the risk of death or disability with pneumococcal meningitis was significantly greater than with the other types of meningitis.

Dr Jones said there were between 15 and 20 cases of pneumococcal meningitis reported in Ireland each year. There is a pneumococcal vaccine available which has been part of the routine vaccination programme in the US since 2000.

While the vaccine, called Prevenar, is licensed in Ireland it is not available as part of the routine childhood vaccine programme.

“We want to see a world that is free of meningitis and we now have a vaccine that is effective against pneumococcal meningitis that I would like to see incorporated into the routine vaccination programme here,” said Dr Jones.

Ireland manager of the Meningitis Research Foundation, Anne McCoy, said breakthrough research meant vaccinations were available for certain strains of the disease, but not all. “It is so important that the public remain vigilant of the symptoms associated with these diseases,” she said.

Throughout next month, Meningitis Research Foundation’s ‘Marvin The Monster’ pins will be available for a donation of 2 in all 33 Boots stores nationwide.

All proceeds from the campaign will go towards Meningitis Research Foundation’s work in research, awareness and support, and their 24-hour helpline: LoCall 1890 413344.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

Septicaemia is the blood poisoning form of the disease.

Anyone can contract meningitis and/or septicaemia but babies, toddlers and young adults are most at risk.

As no vaccines exist it is vital to be aware of the symptoms of both. Both can kill in hours and have different symptoms. Those who recover may be left with a range of serious after effects.

‘Miracle child’ Nadia a survivor

By Evelyn Ring

NADIA O’HANLON was only three-months-old when she contracted pneumococcal meningitis, a disease that left her both physically and mentally damaged.

Her mother, Louise, said the hospital nicknamed her “the miracle child” because she was never expected to survive. Nadia, an only child, is now 16-months-old. She is blind, deaf in one ear and has evolving cerebral palsy in one arm. Because she has low muscle tone, she cannot support her head and is unable to sit unaided.

Just over a year ago, Nadia woke up and her mother immediately sensed she was unwell. “She was quite a happy, lively child. But this morning she was a little quieter than usual. She was breathing quite heavily, seemed tired and was refusing bottles.”

Louise decided to take Nadia to her GP, who thought she might have a kidney infection. Antibiotics were prescribed and Louise took Nadia back to their home in Tallaght, Dublin.

“The next day Nadia was very drowsy and quite irritable. She was refusing feeds and began what I could only describe as a high-pitched cry, something you never ever hear from a baby.”

Louise took her baby to Tallaght Hospital and a lumbar puncture confirmed Nadia had meningitis.

The following afternoon she suffered a violent 45-minute seizure and was transferred to the Children’s Hospital, Temple Street, where she was put on a ventilator.

An MRI scan showed that Nadia’s brain was devastated by the seizures and it was unlikely she would survive.

“Just a week before, Nadia was laughing and playing and a week later I was holding her in my arms waiting for her to die,” Louise recalled. But Nadia proved everyone wrong.