When you think of all the things that can cause a headache it can be mind-boggling. But your child complaining of a headache with fever is unusual and can be cause for worry. That’s why as a mother and a Doctor I am always trying to stay up to date with healthcare information.
And so I am taking this opportunity to help spread the right words and create awareness about meningitis and how to prevent it.
Do you know about meningitis?
It’s a cause for worry especially for infants and young kids. It causes an inflammation of the covering membranes that protect the brain and the spinal cord.
As my daughter was growing up, I kept a mental checklist of danger signs. Being a doctor, it was easy for me. But as parents, it is our job to be vigilant for signs that could mean more than simple flu or tantrum. Today I will share with you the warning signs for meningitis you must keep a lookout for. Fever, poor feeding, and neck rigidity are early warning signs of meningitis.
Other symptoms of meningitis include:
- General poor feeling, sudden high fever
- Skin rash
- Nausea or vomiting
- Discomfort in bright lights, blurring of vision, double vision and/or eye pain
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or difficulty in awakening
- Joint pain
- Confusion or other mental changes
What can cause Meningitis?
Viral diseases like mumps, measles, enteroviral diseases, chickenpox, herpes and many others. Viral meningitis is the most common and is less severe than bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis is a serious condition with the potential for complications, death, and disability in survivors.
Why does it worry me as a mommy?
It may have a very quick progression and can cause death in a very short time. According to Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics, the risk is highest between children of 6 months to two years of age.
The good news
There are vaccines available. My daughter received BCG, HIB, and pneumococcal and after researching about a meningococcal vaccine that’s next in line.
Is it contagious?
Yes, it’s highly infectious. It can spread through cough and cold droplet infection.
With reported cases of meningococcal meningitis increasing in India and no routine immunization, it’s making me feel unsafe as a mother. When I know it’s highly infectious and when I know prevention is possible I don’t want to take a risk. Prevention is better than cure any day!
What I did as a parent, to prevent this deadly disease?
- Check whether BCG vaccination was given or not (usually given at birth): given to my daughter.
- Check HIB vaccination was given or not (usually given as a pentavalent vaccine along with DPT): given to my daughter.
- Talk to your Pediatrician about the Pneumococcal vaccine: my daughter received it.
- Talk to your Pediatrician about the need for the Meningococcal vaccine.
In case you are unsure about your child’s need for protection and vaccination you must consult your pediatrician. For more information on meningococcal meningitis and its prevention check: http://www.comomeningitis.org/
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Read a Quick Guide on Meningitis in Children Signs,Symptoms and dangers giving some more clarity to this topic.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased professional views of solely the blogger. This is a part of public awareness initiative on meningococcal meningitis supported by Sanofi Pasteur India. Sanofi Pasteur bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health related information.
This article is meant to help create awareness and spread knowledge. All decision regarding your health and child’s health should be done after consultation with your doctor. Read my full disclosure here. While all efforts are made to keep articles updated the speed of research in these fields mean the information often may change when more research knowledge is available. Healthwealthbridge or the authors should be in no way held responsible in that case.
Written after consultation and discussion with Dr. Abhijit Misra (MD Pediatrician – Healthwealthbridge board of advisors)
Healthwealthbridge disclaims all liabilities and warranties, whether express or implied, relating to the accuracy, genuineness and appropriateness of such content and shall not be held liable for any reliance placed on such content for any reason whatsoever.
Reference:
- Nelson Text Book of Pediatrics
- http://www.comomeningitis.org/world-meningitis-day/wmd-2018/
- meningitis
- http://www.cochrane.org/CD005437/ARI_antibiotics-treat-suspected-cases-meningitis-due-infection-meningococcus-confirmation-diagnosis
- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html
- IAP recommendations
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I have just updated with my paediatrician for all the vaccines and came to know about meningococcal meningitis vaccine too. He says it is the fever in the brain and the vaccine should be given on time to prevent it.
Yes its important to do it on time.
Oh I didnt know about this disease until now in so depth though I have got my son administered with its vaccines. Thanks for this post.
Thank you for sharing such an important information, would definitely share this link with friends too
Glad that you found this helpful.
Very insightful post indeed must say. Didn’t have any kind of ideas about this disease . Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us and make us aware of it.
Glad this was helpful.
That is really informative dear, being Microbiologist i have learnt so much of abt meningitis i can relate to what u wrote exactly
Glad this was helpful.
That’s s very informative and helpful post. All parents should know about this. Thanks for sharing.
Glad this was helpful.
I had no idea meningitis is so dangerous! It can kill within a short time? That is frightening! Thank you for spreading awareness about it!
Glad this was helpful.
I remember being made aware about meningitis by my paediatrician as if left untreated it can be fatal. Thanks for this informative post
Glad this was helpful.
Meningitis is a malicious disease. Your post is so insightful and informative in its context. It will be immensely helpful for new parents.
Glad this was helpful.
Informative post. Meningitis is serious and all necessary checkups and vaccinations must be done to avoid it.
Glad this was helpful.
This is really insightful for a parent to read about the topic of meningitis. I think all the vaccines are given but will make sure again.
Glad this was helpful.
My preteen complains of headaches at times, do you think it could be meningitis? Some symptoms mentioned match and some don’t. Now that I have read the article I am wondering.
Its better to consult a doctor but long duration headache is unlikely to be meningitis .
This is really informative post to moms.. it is important to practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing.
Glad this was helpful.
Meningitis indeed is a disease that needs to be prevented. One must be very cautious and take proper vaccination for kids.
Glad this was helpful.
This is such an informative post yet another one in the series Amrita I am so much gaining knowledge through this
This is a very informative post , unfortunately many new mom’s are not much aware of it. I am going to share it with my cousin who is expecting .
This is informative. I’m sure not many Moms would even think about meningitis, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. My sister knows a teenager who got this, and it all started with a headache so frequent and severe that he would cry out loud and throw things around in pain. He is, thankfully, better now. Will share your post with every Mom I know. Thanks for this!
It can be a very serious infection.Glad the teenager is better now.
What an amazingly informative post!! I am going to share with new moms!
Thanks Veena
This is omething all parents need to be aware of. better vaccinate than be sorry later.
Thats true.
Very informative article. It is very important to know about meningitis and act accordingly. Thank you for writing this article.
Thank you for visiting.
A very useful and informative post. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for visiting.
Very informative post.. surely gonna share n keep an check on symptoms always
Hopefully you will never have to check and always stay healthy.
Every parent needs to read this informative post about meningitis and its symptoms.. It was very helpful thanks… Sharing the same.
Glad you found it useful.
New mommys suffer with very little knowledge about child health. Sometimes a fever could be a symptom of something else which they think it’s normal. Before things go out of hand it is better to know all such things. Very useful post Amrita.. Keep spreading health awareness 🙂
Thanks for the write up Amrita. Glad to know about this.
This is really a very informative post for all the mothers specially , I am gonna share with my sister in law.
Thanks for the info.. ..will check on the pneumociccal and meningococcal vaccines on my next paed visit
Thanks for sharing information on important deadly disease
Informative post!!
Your post made me think about the vaccination card of my daughter. I need to reconfirm. Waise to all was done.
#mannreads
I recently came to know about it through a friend when my son was complaining that his head is hurting. He being a doc immediately asked me to check for other symptoms thankfully it was just the heat. And yes agree staying updated on these symptoms help a lot.
very informative post.I will share with my cousin whos a mummy too ..to keep a check on the symtpoms
Thank you Bhumika.Glad you found it yourself.
Our paediatrician suggested to go for pneumococcal vaccine & we have given it to our son. Vaccination is really essential and one should not ignore it. Precaution is better than cure any day. Thanks for the well researched blog.
Glad you found it useful.
Some diseases are harmful and ignorance is additional fatal factor. Thank you for creating awareness about this disease along with detailed information.
Thanks Dipika
This is such an eyeopener post my dear, must be shared to create awareness and doing just that.
Thanks Roma
this is so much inside , it was nice reading it…have come across this
this is so beautiful, love to visit once…
#MyFriendAlexa
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Sad that not many talk about this when it is such a potential killer.
Yes .That’s a cause for concern.
A much needed post. Thanks for writing Amrita
Thank you Dr.Pooja
This is an informative post about Meningitis. All parents must read it and spread awareness.
Kids are easily prone to infection and the normal fever is not ways to distinguish with meningitis. Like you have mentioned that proper vaccination can helps us to combat this disease in long way
A long term plan both individual and community based is what is needed.
Heard a lot about this lately. I checked the list of vaccinations you have mentioned, I’m relieved that all have been given to my daughters. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks Vartika
VERY GOOD INFORMATION ……………..
Meningitis sounds very serious and can be deadly if not prevented or treated. If I am not wrong following certain hygienic conditions can help you in preventing this disease. During pregnancy, take care of your diet and avoid being in and most important do not forget to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. It was a very informative post. I always keep myself updated with health issues so that I can share with people around me who are not aware of such harmful diseases around them. I think If the disease is not treated timely, it can worsen and make the person susceptible to neurological damages- correct me if I am wrong.
Very true Romila.Thanks for visiting.
Nicely written with lot of information. With the advancement of medical science its easier now to differentiate bacterial and viral meningitis and encephalitis. Now we have molecular techniques like PCR, Film array techniques for such detection.
Thus, by being more aware of danger signs and early detection, one can avoid the dangers.
Thanks for posting 🙂
True .Thank you for visiting.
Thank you Amrita for sharing this insight. This is pretty helpful for many parents.
A close family friend lost their 8 year old daughter to Meningitis a few years ago, because they had no idea what it was and her illness was treated like a common fever.
Hope more parents read this post and learn about it.
Have been hearing a lot about meningitis lately. Thanks for this very informative post on the same subject. Will keep the pointers for reference in an emergency.
Thanks for the appreciation .