View Full Version : Scary MotherF***er
As a parent of 3 kids, there is nothing that I find more terrifying than the prospect of Meningococcal Meningitis/Septicaemia. Children are most at risk and death can result in a very short timeframe.
A schoolmate of my 7 year old son died from this on Sunday night after a week long fight with it (being in a coma for all that time). This is a kid who was at my son's birthday party, running around like a mad idiot like little kids do, only a matter of months ago. Now, at the age of 7, he is gone.
I don't need to say that this really is too close to home!
That's terrible news mate. With a 3yo mysekf I know where your coming from. Hope your son is ok.
I guess he's fine - not sure how well he is able to deal with the concept of death yet though. You better believe that there was a heap of panic at the school when the news came out - parents immediately pulling their kids out and keeping them home.
Fortunately, although it's contagious, it is really hard to catch. Otherwise the death toll would be horrendous!
Scary stuff, aren't the symptoms very similar to the flu or a cold - runny nose, elevated temperature etc.
I feel for the parents & friends.
oh_my_hat
11 Dec 2001, 20:24
That is very scary. That and these super-viruses that keep evolving to beat anti-biotics. I recently had a cold and tried to beat it without anti-biotics but in the end had to relent.
Also that golden staph(sp?) that you can get with a hospital stay worries me quite a bit.
prized bitch
11 Dec 2001, 21:26
Originally posted by oh_my_hat
That is very scary. That and these super-viruses that keep evolving to beat anti-biotics. I recently had a cold and tried to beat it without anti-biotics but in the end had to relent.
Also that golden staph(sp?) that you can get with a hospital stay worries me quite a bit.
Had golden staph (sp?) took ages to get it out of the system. Pretty agressive virus as well. Was sick for ages with it.
Two of my friends have had Meningococcal, funny thing is its kept hush hush from the parents, because the school feared an overreaction. I know that i would rather know and be treated as a precaution as happened with myself.
Originally posted by CJH
I guess he's fine -
Great!
not sure how well he is able to deal with the concept of death yet though.
Yeah, I think they struggle with the very concept of death at three, let alone it's consequences.
You better believe that there was a heap of panic at the school when the news came out - parents immediately pulling their kids out and keeping them home.
Understandable.
Fortunately, although it's contagious, it is really hard to catch. Otherwise the death toll would be horrendous!
Polio, but worse.
dogboy23
12 Dec 2001, 14:06
About 4 years ago when Meningococcal was less well known a girl from my school came down with it and died.The hysteria was much the same as what you described.I have a sister with Cystic Fibrosis so can sympathise with people wary of there children catching things like that as my parents basically ban me from the house if i get even the slightest cough.;)
The Hitman
13 Dec 2001, 04:57
I had a workmate at Safeway get it, we all had to have checks, and it was very frightening, considering he was in a coma. He came outta it, and he had to relearn to walk and all.
Real shame, although I don't work there anymore, he was a great bloke and it's hard to imagine him struggling with life.
The Hitman
P.S. I hope your son is coping CJH.
twangchild
18 Dec 2001, 11:49
hitman, you must have worked at the safeway at wavos.
i think i know the person you are referring to, used to go to my school.
McFlurry
19 Dec 2001, 12:07
he went to my school too
Sorry to regurgitate this thread but this disease got a run on 60 Minutes last night. I still maintain that this is one of the biggest fears a parent can have.
(And I don't apologise for the title!)
It's aweful and I don't want to seem uncaring because I do.
But I'm maybe a bit older, with parents and their peers that had 8-10 children of which 50% would die from Polio, dyptheria etc. Life has evolved. Death was much more acceptable and an every day of life thing 50 years ago. That's why things like the 'stolen generation' seem so bad now but 50 years ago were trivial compared with the tragedies of normal life.
I often feel so sad about people I've known that died 20 or more years ago and that if todays medicines were available then would have survived. That's why when I see the blowouts in PBS costs I dislike the increase in costs but recognise the blessing it brings.
Fat Red
22 May 2002, 13:35
We are a bit sheltered from death these days, although from my year at school we have had 3 deaths alone, 2 of which while we were there.
I agree about meningococcal, it is extremely frightenting although still rare. There is a new vaccine out for one variety of it which might be worth checking out.
I've been booked in for a Meningococcal vaccination for this coming Wednesday. It's the only needle I've ever had that I'm actually looking forward to.
KingyOrTheKing
30 May 2002, 23:31
Well I'm living in Hobart. We would have to have the highest number of meningococcal cases in Australia (considering the population, thats real bad)...:( :(
Originally posted by
I've been booked in for a Meningococcal vaccination for this coming Wednesday. It's the only needle I've ever had that I'm actually looking forward to.
And is this the same vaccine that is was then reported last week that here in Aus we have 'run out of it'!!
That is scary enough in itself!
True_Roo
5 Jun 2002, 12:49
Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
Well I'm living in Hobart. We would have to have the highest number of meningococcal cases in Australia (considering the population, thats real bad)...:( :(
Meningococcal is most common in Victoria out of all places in Australia, it's less common the further north you go.
The bacteria lives in the throat & nasal area but it doesn't always infect it's host (nobody knows why that is).
The vaccination is very effective against one of the strains (the most common I think) , but it's in short supply. As supply can't match the demand at the moment.
I'd recommend getting vaccinated asap.
Richmondfan#1
6 Jun 2002, 22:14
Yep, I'm scared and I'm 14!
My friend had a meningacoccal scare a few months ago. Came out in an unexplained rash and had a few more symptoms. She was so scared she pondered writing us letters in case she died! Thank god she didn't have the disease though ... would have been horrendous.
Particularly dangerous for those who spend a lot of time going out and partying, for the reason that a number of cases have been attributed to sharing drinks and cigarettes and snogging.
BrisGirl
18 Jun 2002, 13:28
The crappy thing about this virus, is that is starts like any normal sickness.....headache, temp, tired.
Go to bed to sleep and your dead.
If you get the rash, which is the indicator that you have it, it is really bad....... coma, loss of limbs.
The scary thing is, that it has vague symptoms, until it is too late.
My son recently had Mycoplasma Pneumonia virus, wiped him out for 2 months. Never heard of it, and don't know how you get it. He is over it now but it was unsettleing because it was one we had to ride out.
DemonChick22_24
7 Jul 2002, 00:30
my brothers friend, she had meningacoccal lucky enough she didn't die. She lost a kidney or Liver from it and sooo much weight shes practically anonexic. And then a few months ago her sister was flown by air Ambos to the Royal Childrens in melb, but only had a scare of it. When people at my school heard that she got it ( my brothers freind) ALLL her friends had to be Tested for it. But the carrier was one of my brothers mates friends. i think it was pritty scary exsepriance.
About 4 years ago when Meningococcal was less well known a girl from my school came down with it and died.The hysteria was much the same as what you described.
I'm guessing you're talking about Louise? I used to play netball with her. She was an amazing person. Couldn't believe it when I heard. And all she had was a headache!
It's really disturbing to know that that's all the symptons you can have. Everyone says you get a purple rash, but it's not necessarily going to appear. Speaking for myself I'm terrified of it. I know it's not a definate to contract it, but I'm sick 90% of the year (no joke. Had bad whooping cough until I was about 13, and my immune systems shot thanks to a low iron count I can't fix).....I wouldn't know whether anything weird was happening! It's a scary scary thought!
:(
TigerCraig
26 Jul 2002, 12:28
As a dad it terrifies me - particularly the speed of it.
A 7 year old girl died in Wyong a couple of days ago, and her mum's advice is don't be polite at the hospital. Stand up and scream until your kid gets treated - even if you have to start hitting people until security are called. A couple of minutes can make the difference. She is blaming herself for sitting down and being quiet.