'Fantastic breakthrough' in battle against killer disease
Jack Punch (4), from Co Clare, was diagnosed with meningitis when he was eight months old. photographs: eamon ward
Jack Punch (4), from Co Clare, was diagnosed with meningitis when he was eight months old. photographs: eamon ward
A final ruling must be made before a meningitis B vaccine, Bexsero, becomes available for use
Ireland has the highest rate of meningococcal disease in the EU and there are about 170 cases of meningitis B diagnosed here each year. But while there are no preventative measures against this strain of the disease, doctors may soon be able to offer vaccination to children at risk.The Bexsero vaccine has just been granted licence by the European Medicines Agency and experts say the jab is likely to be effective against 73 per cent of the different variations of meningitis B.
Diane McConnell, Ireland manager of the Meningitis Research Foundation, believes this new vaccine could make a difference to children at risk all over the continent, including Ireland.
“This meningitis B vaccine marks a fantastic breakthrough in our ongoing fight against this life-threatening disease,” she says. “Ireland has the highest incidence of meningococcal serogroup B [MenB] disease in Europe, so it is vital that this vaccine be made available on the National Immunisation Programme as soon as possible to prevent further families suffering the devastating consequences of meningitis.”
The Punch family from Scarriff, Co Clare is one of those families. When Paddy and Marie Punch’s four-year-old son Jack was just eight months old, Marie put him to bed as normal, but the following morning was horrified to discover he had vomited in his cot, had a very high temperature and seemed listless and pale.
She immediately took him to her doctor who recommended a trip to the local hospital for an X-ray to rule out a lung infection. No one expected the little boy to be diagnosed with meningitis.
His lips turned blue
“I got worried when I saw the strange yellow vomit on Jack’s bed and realised that he felt really hot,” recalls Marie. “I rang my mum who said I should take him to the doctor and even though it was only 8.30am, I was seen straight away and was told to take him into Limerick for an X-ray as he had been chesty for a while.
“While we were at the hospital, Jack got sick again, then his oxygen levels dropped down to 79, his heart was racing and his lips turned blue. The doctor gave him oxygen and put a nebuliser on him as he thought he might have had pneumonia, but when the X-ray came back clear, someone suggested meningitis.
“I didn’t know what was going on, but one of the doctors noticed three faint spots on his arm and said he was going to treat him for meningitis just to be on the safe side. But I thought we would be going home the following morning.”
