meningitis......how catching?
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Topic: meningitis......how catching?
Posted By: ellabellame
Subject: meningitis......how catching?
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 9:21am
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DP's sister went to hospital in the ambulance on friday night and it turns out she has meningitis (they only got the conclusive results back yesterday but had started treating her for it right away, just in case). now they want to give her immediate family a course of medication just in case it's been passed on which has me freaking out a bit.
she's been in close contact with both kids. does anyone know the chances of it being passed on? the leaflet that came with the meds says that even with them it is possible to still get meningitis. ------------- |
Replies:
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 9:28am
frist sooo sorry to hear of you sister inlaws hope she gets well relly quickly . its very congtagous my brother had this and we all had to take a pill better safe the sorry and it will turn your urine orange  ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 4:09pm
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Oh no sorry to hear that. Do you know if its Viral or Bacterial? We had a family friend that had bacterial meningitis many years ago and we were given the tablets that make you pee orange too.
A few years ago a very good friend of mine that I was living with got viral meningitis and I didnt need to take the horrible tablets again. But it turned into TB later on so was vaccinated for that. I hope she gets better soon and you guys are ok too. ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 4:30pm
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yeah you can still get it but take the drugs anyway - even if something does come of the contact it may reduce the severity , I owuld have to double check that
Also keep your hygiene in your own home extreme at the moment - to prevent passing it between those in the home in th event someone is harbouring the bug good luck and fingers crossed you have managed to avoid it! x ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 5:37pm
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There is a mum on here who is a virologist - But I cant remember who it is - they would probably be a great help ------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 7:30pm
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meningitis itself is a name for the swelling of the brain tissue, and as someone previously said, it can be caused by bacteria or viruses.
The contagiousness totally depends on what caused it. Viral meningitis is more common than bacterial, but the meningitis might be just one symptom of illness; whereas bacterial meningitis or meningococcol disease is generally caused by a couple of strains of bacteria. If it's bacterial, it can be passed by close physical contact, and the bacteria can live in your body for days/weeks/months without causing disease (but then may cause meningitis if your immune system is overrun). So short answer - take the drugs, and whether it's been passed on probably depends on how close the contact was between your SIL and kids. Ditto what RJ said too - make sure people aren't coughing over each other etc. Hope it all turns out ok for you. At least you've got a bit of a heads' up, so you can be on the lookout for any symptoms appearing and know to act quickly. -------------  
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 7:38pm
And that would have been the virologist Mum you were waiting on  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 7:44pm
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and forgot to add, depending on the age of your kiddies, they may have also received the MeNZB immunisation? That would probably be of some help too (although that is assuming it was the Meningococcol B strain that caused it in the first place - otherwise it may not be of any help at all! ) 
Just saw your ticker, and obviously your DD won't have had it, but your DS may have? (They stopped vaccinations in 2006). ETA: the new immunisation schedule includes vaccinations against Hib, which is another bacteria that causes meningitis. So maybe something that will help them! -------------
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Posted By: ellabellame
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 8:29pm
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yes DS had all the menzb immunisations.
we've all had the meds now (bright orange pee, wahoo!!!) but i'm still going to keep an eye out for any symptoms and i don't care how paranoid i seem, if they get any of them i'm going straight to the hospital! just wondering though, i've been keeping mikey home from kindy just in case because i don't want any of his little friends getting sick, is that necessary? ------------- |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 8:44pm
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Don't know about that one, might be worth giving Healthline a call to see if there are *official* requirements for staying out of the general public (like there are for measles etc).
And absolutely on the straight to hospital. Hope your SIL is doing ok, and that everyone in your household stays healthy. -------------
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Posted By: ellabellame
Date Posted: 09 February 2010 at 9:19pm
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thanks so much for the good advice and info, blondy, you've been really helpful.
SIL is doing great, she was going absolutely nutty from boredom at hospital so they've let her go home and she has to go to the medical center daily for IV antibiotics. she's still not 100% but she's on the mend. ------------- |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 10 February 2010 at 8:42am
haha I guess so!! switched on chicky you are blondy! thats a pretty fancy job!! arent we lucky you an oh baby mum!! ------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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lilfatty wrote:Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 10 February 2010 at 8:54am
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No worries I'm really not a virologist any more, but I can't seem to get that decade of learning out of my head, so looks like it's here to stay Once a geeky scientist always a geeky scientist
And glad your SIL is doing well ellabellame  -------------
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