Kids Exposed to Bacterial Meningitis

Specialties Pediatric

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Thought you guys might know the answer to my question...A little girl in my 2-yr old's daycare class was careflighted to Children's (Dallas) yesterday afternoon with an "unconfirmed" case of bacterial meningitis. To add to it, my 3-yr old is in the same class with her older brother! GEEZ! So, my husband and I are really freaked out. Is there any way for us to find out if the case has been confirmed or not? What with HIPPA and all, I just wondered if you guys could tell me anything. Would the hospital confirm it or tell me what type of bacteria it is, if any? Or what about the public health department? I know the little girl's mom, but I hate to call her at the hospital and say, "So, I understand sweet little X has meningitis!"

In any case, it's my understanding that the little girl had a red rash all over, fever, convulsing, foaming at the mouth--the whole bit. Please, please, please keep her and her family in your prayers. Today is the little angel's 2nd birthday, oddly enough.

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Parents of children exposed to contagious disease WILL be informed if testing or prophylactic treatment is needed.

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I talked to my pediatrician's office this morning and they said that they would do prophylactic treatment for both kids as soon as the case is confirmed and as soon as they know which bacteria they're dealing with. I think I'm going to need a couple of valium for myself until then! I'm going nuts over here! But I think I'm doing all I can--I'm watching them like a hawk, and they'll be at Children's lightening fast at the first sign of fever or vomitting. I just really wish there was a way to check on the little girl, but I kind of think HIPPA took care of that for me. I'm so worried about her...I think she was in pretty bad shape when they careflighted her yesterday.

Thanks for your reply, and please keep her in your prayers.

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Update: They've ruled out meningitis and any other highly-contagious disease. The little girl is stable, and they're moving her from the ICU to a regular room.

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.

So sorry to hear of this. I'll pray for your friend and her child. Yes, prophylactice treatment will be given to all those in contact with the child. That was the case with us. However, we still lost OUR 3 yr old granddaughter to bacterial meningitis 7 yrs ago.

So often hospitals will send children home, thinking it's the flu(the symptoms are very simialr) and within hours the child can pass away. (Some individuals have died within 2 hrs.) We learned too late that at the first sign of high fever, vomiting, take the child to the hospital and INSIST ON A SPINAL TAP (that's the only way to get a definitive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis). And make a pest of yourself until the spinal tap is done!!!!!!!

I've made it a point of educating people about the s/sx---especially to be alert for these in the spring months and fall/winter months when the disease is most prevalent. All too often once the "rash" (which is really septicemia) occurs, there's not much that can be done. The individual can lose fingers, toes, whole limbs, suffer brain damage, or die. I don't mean to scare you by this info, but it's a devastating disease because it can kill so fast. Frequently MDs just don't diagnose it correctly in time.

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Specializes in A myriad of specialties.
Update: They've ruled out meningitis and any other highly-contagious disease. The little girl is stable, and they're moving her from the ICU to a regular room.

THANK GOD! I had not read this most recent post of yours when I posted my last response. If you're interested in more info about meningitis, here is the website:

www.musa.org

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