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Mother kissing her child's head
Real patient stories

These are true medical testimonies and may differ from other cases.
Names and patient photos are fictitious.

Nourah's story: A mother’s worst fear

Nourah's mother tells how her daughter lost her life after contracting meningitis serogroup B at 11 months.
Hear Nourah's story, as told by her mother.

Clinical Presentation

  • Fever and pale skin
  • Rash on arms and fingers, later spreading to chest, neck, and face
  • Stiff neck

Outcome

  • Death after hours of treatment and monitoring in the emergency room

In the words of her mother…

I can’t describe my feelings when Nourah passed away. When I returned home later that evening, I was devastated. 24 hours prior, Nourah appeared happy and relatively healthy. Now, she is no longer with me. I know today that vaccination is one way to help prevent meningococcal disease. If Nourah was vaccinated, she may still be here with me today.

Invasive meningococcal disease can advance rapidly and have profound consequences, including death, even when acting quickly and providing proper care.1-3 Cases like Nourah's death may be prevented through early vaccination.3

Mother comforting her crying infant Mother comforting her crying infant

Fatmah's story: Her fight for life

Fatmah was a 4-year-old girl who survived meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B with no apparent consequences.
Hear Fatmah's story, as told by her paediatrician.

Clinical Presentation

  • Headache and a fever of 38°C (100°F), which had developed over just a few hours
  • Runny nose and cough for a few days prior
  • Lack of movement and unable to fully open eyes or speak
  • Neck stiffness and difficulty breathing
  • No rash

Tests Findings

  • Normal vital signs and capillary blood glucose
  • No signs of cranial hypertension through CT scan
  • Presence of cloudy cerebrospinal fluid revealed through lumbar puncture
  • Cerebrospinal fluid culture later confirmed infection with Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

Treatment

  • Intravenous dexamethasone, cefotaxime, and vancomycin
  • Perfusion of saline solution and dopamine after condition worsened

Outcome

  • Survival with no apparent consequences
Young girl with braided hair Young girl with braided hair

In the words of her paediatrician…

Invasive meningococcal disease, although uncommon, is one of the diseases that those of us who dedicate our lives to children’s healthcare fear the most.1 In my 20-plus years of experience, I’ve seen that this infection can advance rapidly and have profound consequences, including death, even when acting quickly and providing proper care.1-3 This little girl was very lucky. I still can’t forget the look her parents gave me, but I’m satisfied knowing that stories like this are now potentially avoidable and can be prevented. We also have vaccines against the serogroups that most often cause invasive meningococcal disease, including the serogroup that infected this girl. Actively informing people of the existence and availability of these vaccines has become one of my main objectives as a paediatrician in my primary care unit. Today, my patient is still the happy little girl she was, and I still get to enjoy the sparkle in her eyes!

Sean’s story: A life-changing moment

Sean was an 8-year-old boy who survived meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B but sustained permanent hearing loss. Sean’s initial presentation did not appear to be critical, but when he returned with worsening symptoms, he was sent to the ICU.
Hear Sean’s story, as told by his paediatrician.

Clinical Presentation

  • Nausea, fever of 39.7°C (104°F), and headache
  • Widespread pain in both legs 
  • Red wine-colored spot 2 mm in diameter on the right leg
  • Limited passive flexion of the neck

Diagnostic Findings

  • Grade I/VI systolic murmur and tachycardia
  • Normal vital signs and capillary blood glucose
  • Cerebrospinal fluid sample revealed presence of predominantly polymorphonuclear pleocytosis, hyperproteinorrhachia, and hypoglycorrhachia
  • Blood cultures, PCR, and lumbar puncture confirmed Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B

Treatment

  • Cefotaxime, supplemental oxygen, and saline solution
  • Vasoactive drugs after condition worsened

Outcome

  • Survival
  • Bilateral hypoacusis
Young blonde boy Young blonde boy

In the words of his paediatrician…

To this day, I still wonder if I could have diagnosed the disease earlier. But I am reassured by the knowledge that we now have vaccines to help prevent cases like this one.3 Since then, I have made sure that all the children and families I see in my practice are informed about meningitis and how to help prevent it. Despite everything that happened, this little boy was very lucky. That’s why I love it so much every time he comes to see me!

References

  1. Pelton SI. Meningococcal disease awareness: clinical and epidemiological factors affecting prevention and management in adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46:S9-S15.
  2. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397–403.
  3. World Health Organization. Meningococcal meningitis. www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/meningococcal-meningitis. Accessed April 17, 2020.

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PM-SA-BEX-WCNT-200005 Date of preparation: September 2020