When is Meningitis not Meningitis?

What a worry for you both! I have to agree with Thulfi tho and express surprise that they haven`t done a lumbar puncture as this is, and as far as I`m aware things haven`t changed, the diagnositic test of choice when dealing with potential meningitis. The medics must be extremely confident that they`re not dealing with meningitis but I`d make a point of questionning why they haven`t carried out this test.

I had a similar scare with my son at a young age and it turned out to be a nasty virus that caused symptoms similar to meningitis but also caused swelling in his joints but there`s a few things this could turn out to be and I wouldn`t and couldn`t try to diagnose it.

Is good to hear that he`s on the mend and I hope he recovers quickly and is soon back home x

[Dave20046]

poor guy! nothing useful to say other than get well soon!

[G]

Lumbar puncture... The most painful thing I have ever had done EVER

A spinal injection does sound painful! I hope he makes a full recovery soon.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by G

Lumbar puncture... The most painful thing I have ever had done EVER

Is it anything like having an epidural thingy? Had one o those with the caesarian......I agree the most horrid scary thing EVER!! Get lost coming near my back with a sharp pointy stick Not somethin to put a poorly little person through!

Lumbar punctures??? I've had 8 of the buggers, but they've all been carried out by competent bods and though uncomfortable with all the pushing in my back they've not been painful. The pain comes after when theyve drained away my cerebral spinal fluid and my eyes and brain want to implode Just had a lumbar-pleural shunt fitted though so hopefully no more LP's, yay!!!

Back on track though - glad the little man's recovering Ralph, sick kids are sooo scary. Had my eldest son down A&E with 'THE' rash when he was a toddler, but it wasnt meningitis and we never did fnd out what it was!.

Important thing is that the medics reacted quickly and your little chap is recovering now

Thanks for all the well wishes folks.

Indeed it is scary. When the doctors told me they couldn't wait 10 minutes for an anesthetic to work before taking blood, and I didn't realise it at the time, but then the doctor wouldn't tell me much about the blood test results late last night, both have made me **** myself if I'm quite honest. When the professionals were clearly getting worried, that made me 10 times more worried.

Anyway, he is home now, and other than the rash he is absolutely fine. The doctors haven't fully discharged him, just allowed him to come home, and told us to keep an eye on the rash and if anything changes we can go straight back to the childrens ward without having to go through the process with A&E again.

Thulfi, you were right, they hadn't ruled out meningitis and still haven't, but they have ruled out the nasty kind that gets all the headlines, but the pediatrician said today there are other forms of menigitis that can come and go, not be here today, but re-appear tomorrow. The trouble is every time you speak to a doctor it's a different opinion and a different approach to how much they want to tell/explain to you. The pediatrician decided not to put him though a lumbar puncture as all the symptoms other than the rash were clearing up and overnight he did not look like a child with meningitis to him. He has diagnosed a viral infection which is impairing his blood clotting ability.

That's good news mate. The improvement in his clinical signs is very promising, and they've ruled out the nasty meningitis (meningococcal) which is always the main concern in these instances.

You seem to be in good hands, and paediatricians sure do know their stuff. You're always bound to get slightly different opinions and approaches as you talk to various doctors, but the consultants are the big dogs and usually have the final say in any management, usually after discussing the case with the other seniors and members in the team during their ward rounds or multi disciplinary meetings.

Hope the little one recovers fully soon and stays hospital free.

obviously hope he's better soon, and you two dont get too stressed
as for when is meningitis not meningitis, allergy to peniccilen, this happened to me ,i turnrd into a mr blobby look alike, got quarintined and filled with ,you guessed it more penicillian, a week later they worked it out after some very painfull tests but its one to run passed the doctor when you speak next ,especially as it may present like a infection
hth
dave

Originally Posted by davepreston

obviously hope he's better soon, and you two dont get too stressed
as for when is meningitis not meningitis, allergy to peniccilen, this happened to me ,i turnrd into a mr blobby look alike, got quarintined and filled with ,you guessed it more penicillian, a week later they worked it out after some very painfull tests but its one to run passed the doctor when you speak next ,especially as it may present like a infection
hth
dave

Thanks Dave, he hasn't been on any penicillin, but I read on the internet* that one of the causes of Petechiae is allergy to a drug he has taken. He started on Cetirizine Hydrochoride last Monday to try and tackle swelling and weeping eyes that we believe to be down to hayfever (fields here are yellow as far as the eye can see with oil seed rape, the air smells floral). If it is an allergy to Cetirizine, not a virus though, it will go through a repeat performance at some point this week or next.

Just 'cos he's home and seems better, lets not kill this thread, as with Dave's post, I'd still be really interested in anyone else who's dealt with the same at work, or with their kids. Thanks.