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Children's health

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2 week old has meningitis

25 replies

totsyd · 13/11/2021 06:54

Just looking for some positive meningitis experiences. Currently in hospital with my 2 week old not knowing yet if it's viral or bacterial. I am really scared for him and how this will affect him 😢 has anyone fully recovered from it and had no lifelong problems from it ?

OP posts:
stormy11 · 13/11/2021 07:03

Sorry no advice. Just want to wish you the best of luck and hope your child makes a speedy recovery Flowers

rainbowstardrops · 13/11/2021 07:07

Sorry I have no advice either but just wanted to wish your little one well. He's in the right place. Thanks

LefttoherownDevizes · 13/11/2021 07:08

An acquaintances cold had at that age (think group b strep reissued). All absolutely fine now (they're late teens) but terrifying at the time.

Sending love/prayers

LefttoherownDevizes · 13/11/2021 07:08

^child

moonlight1705 · 13/11/2021 07:16

I was born with meningitis and it has not affected me in the slightest health wise in later life.

You are in the right place with your DS Flowers

chocolateoranges33 · 13/11/2021 07:17

First of all, Im sorry to hear this and hope your baby is feeling better soon.

My oldest DC had bacterial meningitis at 8 months old. He was in hospital for 1 week on intravenous antibiotics and released after 1 week but the district nurse came everyday to check on him and give him more antibiotics into his cannula for another week or so.

He had to have hearing checks every 6 months afterwards as damage to his hearing was a possible result of the meningitis. He failed every single one of them in certain areas but could clearly hear. He eventually was diagnosed with glue ear which cleared up as he got older. Last check was when he was 8.

He is absolutely fine, now 16, plays high level sport, at sixth form and is a thoroughly lovely boy. No side effects at all.

It was an incredibly hard time (I was also heavily pregnant at the time) but the care he had at hospital was outstanding. Please ask as many questions as you need and get as much support as possible.

Thinking of you.

FeelingForced · 13/11/2021 07:17

DD had meningitis when she was two weeks old too. She's a teenager now and has had no side effects at all.

Sending you positive thoughts for your little one's recovery.

madroid · 13/11/2021 07:25

Ds had b strep meningitis at 9 months which was misdiagnosed for three days before treatment so very developed.

Was convinced he'd be damaged permanently.

But he's absolutely fine with no effects.

Had checks for speech and hearing but was all OK.

I hope you get the reassurance that your little ds is fine as soon as possible.

ohtwatbollocks · 13/11/2021 07:33

My little brother had meningitis at about a year old and he got better quite quickly with anti biotics, he's never had any problems since Thanks

Newuser82 · 13/11/2021 07:36

My son had meningitis at birth due to group b strep. He had to have hearing and developmental checks up to age 1. He is totally fine now although we haven’t forgotten how awful it was! Hope your little one recovers quickly.

PurrBox · 13/11/2021 07:37

My son had meningitis when he was 3 days old. His only symptom was a fever, but a spinal tap confirmed that is was meningitis. He was put on the strongest intravenous antibiotics immediately, even though it took 3 days to analyse whether it was bacterial (in the end they thought it was viral, but were not completely sure what was going on).

Anyway, he was COMPLETELY fine, almost as soon as we got him home, and was hardly ever ill as a child. Now he is one of the healthiest, strongest (kindest, cleverest and handsomest) 23 year olds you could ever find anywhere! Also, hearing loss was a significant risk because of the particular drug they put him on, but his hearing is perfect- he is a musician, in fact.

Anyway, it was a horrible, frightening, difficult time for me, but my baby was completely unscathed. The best of luck to you; I hope he has a very speedy recovery and you have all my sympathy. I know exactly how horrible it is, and I just hope your relief comes as quickly as mine did.

RussianSpy101 · 13/11/2021 07:45

My DS had meningitis at 7 weeks old. He was in hospital for 3 weeks.
He had hearing tests done at 8 months as he wasn’t responding to anything but they came back fine.
His immune system suffered and he did catch every cough and cold going for a year or so afterwards but he is a very happy and healthy almost 4 year old now.

It’s an incredibly difficult time. Sending you a handhold OP.

MrsDThaskala · 13/11/2021 07:53

My DD was very poorly when she was 2 1/2.

You'll come through this. He'll be playing running around before you know it. It's incredible (and you won't realise it now) but you're being strong. You're going to wake up every day and do what mummies do. And then years later, you'll wonder how you did it.

Good luck little bubba and his mama!

greencatblue · 13/11/2021 08:03

Hi there

My dd had neonatal meningitis (diagnosed at 12 hours old), and my world seemed to crumble around me. They never knew if it was viral or bacterial (lumbar puncture was 'mixed' and nothing grew in cultures) but we had antibiotics before the samples were taken which makes it less reliable.

She had a week of what seemed like endless antibiotics and antivirals, then we were discharged and 'ambulated' back for the hospital for further antibiotics for another week.

She had regular paediatric follow up to ensure development was normal and a formal hearing assessment.

It was all ok. She is absolutely fine. But the horror of that whole experience is still very real to me.

Sending love and support xxx

totsyd · 13/11/2021 09:29

Thank you so much everyone for your kind replies & well wishes and also for sharing experiences.
I'm reading all of your replies in tears and hoping that my boy will have a speedy recovery xx

OP posts:
NatriumChloride · 13/11/2021 09:37

Another one here whose newborn required IV antibiotics. He is thriving and well now, 4 years old!! I do remember the horror and fear and desperation I felt in the thick of it though. You’re in the best place OP. Sending lots and lots of love and prayers your way for you and your beautiful son. Flowers

Alarae · 13/11/2021 10:02

My daughter had neonatal meningitis and was taken from me directly from birth. The doctors at the time mentioned she might be 'shocked' from the quick birth but obviously wasn't something else at the time.

At four and seven hours old, she had seizures which had to be controlled by medication. Thankfully she never had any more.

She had bacterial meningitis and had antibiotics administered immediately, along with antivirals (this was stopped when bacterial was confirmed). Cultures never grew anything to date we still don't know what caused it.

At day 4 she had a MRI and we were told she had brain damage on the occipital lobe- probably from the seizures.

She spent two weeks in hospital to see out the full course of antibiotics before she came home.

While this story sounds grim (and I felt horrific- like I had caused it) my daughter is now 20 months old and you would never know anything was wrong with her. She has been signed off from physio, audiology and her paediatrician as they are all happy with her progress.

The only concern is how she may be affected re the damage when she's older, as the part affected deals with understanding (for example, dyslexia etc). However I've also been advised that children's brains are very good at rewiring themselves, so there might not be any long term effects at all.

Hand hold OP. It's a horrific thing to go through as there isn't anything you can do to take the harm away.

PurrBox · 15/11/2021 01:20

How are you doing, OP?

totsyd · 15/11/2021 04:23

feeling a little more positive thank you for asking
Operating on 0 sleep.
They think it might be viral meningitis but that's yet to be confirmed, fingers crossed xxx

OP posts:
wtfisgoingonhere21 · 15/11/2021 05:02

No experience op but wanted to send a hand hold for you as I'm very awake and just read your post.

My dc are older now but I remember many frightening nights I've the years in the hospital with them.

One of my dc at 4 weeks old was admitted with what they thought was meningitis and after a lumber puncture and Iv antibiotics and bloods it came back as another infection however it was the scariest time of my life.

Just remember you are in the best place.

ThanksThanks

totsyd · 15/11/2021 13:48

Thank you!
At the moment they seem to believe it's viral meningitis which (after a lot of googling) seems to be 'better' than bacterial meningitis so hopefully my baby boy won't be affected at all 😢

OP posts:
Mumofboys1 · 15/11/2021 14:09

Hey, I just wanted to send love and positive thoughts to you. My son had viral meningitis at 5 months old, it is such an incredibly difficult time, but you are in the right place. He has struggled with his speech (which the paediatrician said may or may not be linked to meningitis 🙄) but he is catching up and doing well (he’s almost 6). I am thinking of you and your son… and I do recall how hard it was at the time like it was yesterday so please message me if you want to

PurrBox · 17/11/2021 18:58

That is excellent news op! I am so glad.

TillyMarie · 05/12/2021 16:10

Suspected bacterial meningitis, yet to be confirmed. What experience do others have? It looks to have been picked up quickly.

mon34 · 05/12/2021 19:39

@TillyMarie

Suspected bacterial meningitis, yet to be confirmed. What experience do others have? It looks to have been picked up quickly.
Sorry to hear that. Sending you a massive big hug. During our time in hospital They always said to us that it's best of caught early. Which sounds like you did. Stay strong and keep positive! Hope you get some more answers soon and remember you're in the best place ❤️
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