Don’t teach your GP to suck eggs

The latest “advice” from the powers that be is to warn GPs and parents not to mistake Meningitis for Swine flu.

Apparently according to the article in the Telegraph warns “The two illnesses can be easily mixed up because they have similar symptoms, including aches and pains and cold hands and feet.

Cases of meningitis typically rise in the autumn - the same time experts have predicted a surge in the number of cases of swine flu.”

Steve Dayman, chief executive of the charity Meningitis UK, said parents should ''trust their instincts'' and watch out for the disease, which can kill in under four hours.

He lost his own son Spencer to meningitis in 1982, when the little boy was just 14 months old.
Mr. Dayman said: ''Meningitis occurs throughout the year but very shortly we will see the number of cases going up.

''It's very difficult for GPs to identify meningitis in its early stages because it's very similar to flu - with symptoms such as cold hands and feet and aching limbs.''

He said a pin prick rash that can turn into purple bruising is a classic sign of meningococcal meningitis and requires urgent attention.

But he said parents should be on their guard even before this happens and seek medical attention if their child appears to deteriorate rapidly.

Children under five are most at risk from meningitis, followed by teenagers and students.

''The issue with children is that there is a rapid deterioration in their condition - within a matter of hours,'' Mr. Dayman said.

''I think it's important for parents of children to contact their GP if they feel concerned - meningitis should be a consideration.

''It's all very well GPs saying 'give them Calpol' but that could mean it becomes too late.

''Once meningitis has established itself and the bacteria is in the bloodstream, it multiplies rapidly and there is no time for delay.

OK, sound advice, but what happens when you think your child may have Swine Flu and you ring the “Advice Line”, speak to on of the “experts” who have no medical training and less than one day Swine Flu training, and they tell you to get some Tamiflu, when in fact your child has Meningitis?

The majority of GPs I would imagine are quite capable of diagnosing both diseases, but you are told not to go to the surgery because of infecting other people, what are you left with? A&E, which is about as useful as the “help line”.

The best way to solve this problem is to make an appointment with your GP or call them out, as long as it is within working hours, and of course use your common sense, if your child has a rash along with the other symptoms, do the “glass test” and if it is positive get the kid to hospital as soon as you can.

I am not a medic, and this is only my opinion, but I am sure that most GPs will be happy to either put your mind at rest or refer to the local trust.

It seems to be a recurrent theme nowadays to bombard us with advice about what to do regarding health matters when all that is need is a bit of common sense and a parents’ instinct.

And if you need information go here to the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Angus

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