I can’t put into words the heartache of seeing my baby lying sick in hospital
Mum warns parents after meningitis ordeal with 7- week- old son Daniel
Jacqui and her partner George had to wait all weekend to find what type of meningitis Daniel had – viral or bacterial.
Jacqui said: “It came back that it was viral which is the better of the two.
“If it was bacterial, he would’ve had to stay in hospital for two to three weeks.”
Little Daniel is back home and on the mend and ‘ starting to get his smile back’.
And Jacqui is now using her experience to urge other parents to always seek professional medical advice if they notice something isn’t right with their little ones.
She said: “I see so many people putting up pictures of their babies’ rashes, fast breathing, spots etc, asking other parents for advice.
“Please, please don’t turn to Facebook or Google – just seek medical attention right away.
“Always wash your hands if you’re going to hold a baby; don’t ever visit a baby while you have the cold a cough or even a sniffle – and don’t ever kiss a baby.
“Babies just don’t have the immune system for it.
“We are so very lucky we noticed everything when we did and the doctors acted as fast as they did.”
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. It can be very serious if not treated quickly and can cause lifethreatening blood poisoning – septicaemia – resulting in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
A common symptom of the infection is a rash which usually starts as small, red pinpricks before spreading quickly and turning into red or purple blotches. It does not fade if you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin.
Symptoms for meningitis in babies can include;
pale, blotchy skin or spots/ rash
fever; cold hands and feet fretful or a dislike of being handled rapid breathing or grunting stiff neck, dislike of bright lights convulsions/ seizures Always seek medical advice as soon as possible if you’re concerned you or your child could have meningitis.
We are so very lucky we noticed everything