Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis can place tremendous strain on both the body and the brain and an estimated 15-25% of people will experience some complications. These can differ in severity from person to person, and can be temporary or permanent.

Usually, the more severe the meningitis infection was, the higher the probability of experiencing complications. So, complications are more common after bacterial meningitis and very rare after viral meningitis.

Possible complications include:

• loss of hearing (this may be partial or total),
• problems with memory and concentration,
• problems with coordination and balance,
• learning difficulties (this may be temporary or permanent),
• epilepsy,
• cerebral palsy,
• speech problems, and
• loss of vision (this may be partial or total).

As hearing loss is the most common complication, people recovering from meningitis are usually given a hearing test to assess their hearing. A further test should follow in six months to check if there has been any improvement or deterioration in hearing.

Psychological effects in children

Contracting meningitis can be a traumatic experience, especially for young children, and many children will exhibit changes in their psychological and emotional behaviour. Possible effects include:

• a child becomes especially 'clingy' and experiences anxiety when they are not with a parent,
• bed wetting,
• disturbed sleep and/or nightmares,
• moodiness,
• temper tantrums,
• developing a fear of doctors and hospitals.

These effects should improve with time as the child recovers, but some children may need additional therapy to cope. If you are anxious about your child's behaviour, talk to your GP, who should be able to refer you to a child psychologist.

The Meningitis Research Foundation also provides a 24-hour freephone helpline for anybody who has been affected by meningitis - 080 8800 3344.