Can you get meningitis twice ?

[AnitaSandra]

Can you get bacterial meningitis more than once ? My grandson was in HDU only a week ago and I'm concerned if it could recure .

[StrawberryCream]

Hi. I can understand your worry as it is such a serious illness. Usually you will be left with some immunity to the strain of BM contracted and don't usually get it again unless your body has become immune suppressed for some reason such as through having chemo. However there are different types of bacterial meningitis so there is always a risk of contracting a different strain or contracting viral meningitis. It is rare to get it more than once but in a minority of people they can have meningitis more than once.

How is your grandson? Has he recovered enough to be at home yet? Even when he is discharged his recovery will still take time as it is not like flu in that when the infection is gone he is back to full health.

Meningitis Now has lots of helpful info on there website which you can download or if you ring the Helpline they will send you relevant info. They are also a great for advice and support if you feel you need to ask questions or if you or your family just need to offload by talking about what you have all been through. There are other services they offer if you live in UK.

Best wishes

[AnitaSandra in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thank you for your quick response . It's only just sinking in what's happened over the last 10 days . He was in high dependency with a nurse 24 hours a day for 2or 3 days then 4 in there own room . He was aloud out if the room I think the the day before he came home . He seems ok but very clingy

Which is to be expected .think he might have headaches but also has a sore bum due to medication so we give him calpol . They are going to check his hearing etc in 4 weeks time . I'm just concerned how quick he's recovered and if he could have a relapse . They said he might have seizures in the future . Anyway thanks for your help

[AnitaSandra in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thanks for your quick reply . He is home now but I'm surprised at the turn around .

[StrawberryCream in reply to AnitaSandra]

I am wondering how old your grandson is and assuming he is a preschool child but I know on here we have got that wrong before when someone spoke of a child and we were assuming 'of child age' but it turned out they were someone's child but now an adult in there 30's or 40's - so it would be helpful to know so I don't get it wrong as the responses need to be sometimes different for a child than an adult.

It is good that his hearing is going to be checked because the BM can sometimes damage it and it often gets overlooked as the hospitals don't know that. Sounds like thankfully they were very quite to dianose the BM and start treatment so his body could fight the infection. It does vary how long hospitalisation is for and some it can be a matter of a week or so and for others much longer. But all the indications will be that the infection has resolved and now the recovery at home starts which will take time as his body has to hopefully recover its full functioning and build up its strength. As you say the clinginess is to be expected and he needs lots of closeness and cuddles to reassure and comfort him. Did he have any fits due to the infection and inflammation in his brain or are they just expressing a possibility?

Best wishes to you all x

[AnitaSandra in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thanks for your support . The doctors said the seizure was because his temperature increased so quickly and this might happen again in future if he's ill.

He is 1.5 years old and is going back to his nursey tomorrow . Luckily my daughter his mum works at the nursey so she can bring him home if he doesn't settle . I just wanted to get a full picture .

[StrawberryCream in reply to AnitaSandra]

I am sure it has been explained to you but a febrile convulsion is due to a very high temperature in a young child and Is not epilepsy. I think febrile convulsions happen more preschool children and generally the risk lessens as they get older. If he gets a temp his mum needs to make sure she has always got calpol at home and if necessary do what I have to do with my son which is to give ibuprofen as well because the calpol alone doesn't keep his temp down as before the next dose is due it very high again. Calpol and ibruprofen can be used safely at same time. I guess the BM sent his temp very high so if at the slightest poss of a temp she doses him up then hopefully it won't go high enough to cause another fit.

That is so lovely to hear that he is going back to nursery tomorrow but he will need to have some quiet time during his session otherwise it could be too much for him and both overwhelm and exhaust him particularly as becoming tired and exhausted post BM is extremely usual.

Best wishes

[YWurri]

So sorry to hear about your Grandson - how old is he?

Today marks the one year anniversary I came out of hospital after being in ICU with bacterial meningitis.

I was only in for two weeks as I needed a 14day course of IV antibiotics. I was desperate to get out as I'd not really met my newborn son (contracted the meningitis just after his birth, but lost my memory).

I still recovered at home, ie slept a lot and still had sensitivity to light and noise, and residua headaches. Was about a month before I felt well again.

I expect a child could bounce back more quickly? I saw my GP this week as am paranoid the meningitis will return, and he said it's very rare to get it more than once.

Hope your Grandson recovers quickly.

[AnitaSandra in reply to YWurri]

Thanks , it is reassuring to know it's rare to get it twice .its good to know from you you have headaches and sensitive to light as he might be the same and he's only one and a half so wouldn't be able to tell us. He has bounced back amazingly quickly . Hope you are well now

[iaveadream22]

Hello , Sorry to read your thread and I would ask you to remain positive as its unlikely he has had another attack so soon. I fully understand your worries and hope your grandson makes a full recovery . I My self have had Bacterial meningitis 4 times in My life time which is unusual indeed, however they were all seperate occasions over many years . I am aware it a horrible illness, however please remain optimistic as I have survived the four attacks . Wishing you and your family well........

[AnitaSandra in reply to iaveadream22]

Thanks for your reply hopefully you won't get it again , I think you have had more than your fair share of it . My daughter is very practical and just gets on with it . I was fine till this week , when it hit me just how ill and how lucky he'd been.