Paediatric illnesses
Don't want your child's brain to "burn out"? Understand meningitis
We've almost all heard the myth of a "burned brain" when we were children, which is why parents are very anxious about their children having a fever, worrying that a high temperature will affect their child's brain development, leading to severe consequences such as intellectual disabilities or even death. In reality, a normal fever will not "burn" a child's brain, and a high temperature will not affect the structure of the brain. What truly injures children and leaves lasting effects is the culprit that causes the fever, and one such cause is meningitis.
Meningitis, as the name suggests, is inflammation of the meninges. It has numerous causes, broadly categorised into viral and bacterial. Bacterial meningitis pathogens include Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis, among others. Meningitis is primarily spread through droplets, such as saliva and nasal discharge. Therefore, when children start school and have close contact with other children, the chances of infection increase significantly.
Vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae type b have been included in the "5-in-1" and "6-in-1" vaccines and are commonly administered to children by parents using the private market. In contrast, the "Meningococcal B" vaccine is a standalone vaccine, and children will not be protected if parents do not specifically opt for this vaccination.
Meningococcal infections occur in Hong Kong every year. The initial symptoms are very similar to the common cold, such as fever, headache, runny nose, lethargy, fatigue, poor appetite, and vomiting, which are easily overlooked by parents. However, meningococcal infections can develop very rapidly; within a few hours, patients can develop severe headaches, skin bruising, and shock. In severe cases, death can occur within 24 hours.
When meningococcal bacteria invade the brain and spinal cord membranes, they damage the central nervous system, leading to severe sequelae. Depending on the area of the brain affected, children may suffer from permanent intellectual impairment, developmental delays, and problems with cognitive and motor coordination, such as seizures and uncoordinated limbs. If the auditory nerve is damaged, it can lead to deafness. In the past, when medical knowledge was not widespread, parents might have mistaken these symptoms, which appeared after a fever, as "brain damage from the fever" when in fact the culprit was meningococcal bacteria.
The most concerning aspect is that the aforementioned after-effects are irreversible, meaning the child will suffer lifelong harm, which is a permanent burden for both parents and the patient. Therefore, parents should recognise the risks of meningitis infection early and take preventative measures for their children as soon as possible.
Source: Parenting Magazine
