I would go as far to say that the media hype has reduced the chance of us
picking up the diagnosis of a child with meningitis. There is a small
window of diagnosis before which the child has the 'virus' after which etc.
I frequently see children with a 4 hour or less history of fever / lethargy
etc. Sooner or later one will get the 'secondary meningeal infection' and
then...... We now see almost every child in the district when they are hot
and 'not them selves Dr.' No chance.
John Charlton.
Derby.
----------
> From: Joe Gallagher <[log in to unmask]>
> To: none <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Flat Earthers
> Date: 18 January 1998 16:30
>
> People once had a irrational fear of falling off the end of earth.
> People have become more sophisticated (arguable) but only the fears have
> changed. I got 10 calls this weekend worried specifically about
> Meningococcal Meningitis. Some are pressing flesh with glass slides and
> performing 24hr vigils on children. There is no outbreak in this area.
>
> Although the media are doing a good job of heightening awareness of this
> pernicious condition I fear they are making a less ideal job of keeping
> the condition in perspective. But then that doesn't make good copy.
> One health correspondent in one of our broadsheets stated. " Meningitis
> is carried at the back of the throat of a lot of people"
> I have seen one case of bacterial meningitis in 10 years. Is this
> unusually small number of cases?
>
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