Meningitis (OPAT)
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This page contains advice for parents and carers of children who are going home on intravenous antibiotics for bacterial meningitis.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can affect any age group, but we see it most commonly in babies, young children and teenagers.
Your child was probably very unwell when you first brought them to hospital. They are now well enough to go home but need to complete their course of intravenous (into the bloodstream) antibiotics. You will need to look out for certain symtpoms at home which we have explained below.
This page contains advice for parents and carers of children who are going home on intravenous antibiotics for bacterial meningitis.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can affect any age group, but we see it most commonly in babies, young children and teenagers.
Your child was probably very unwell when you first brought them to hospital. They are now well enough to go home but need to complete their course of intravenous (into the bloodstream) antibiotics. You will need to look out for certain symtpoms at home which we have explained below.
When should you worry?
If your child has any of the following:
- Becomes pale, mottled and feels abnormally cold to touch
- Has blue lips
- Severe breathing difficulty - too breathless to talk / eat or drink
- Has a fit / seizure
- Becomes extremely agitated, confused or very lethargic (difficult to wake)
You need urgent help
Go to the nearest Hospital Emergency (A&E) Department or phone 999
If your child has any of the following:
- Develops a continous headache despite regular painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
- Continues to vomit repeatedly
- Develops a severe pain behind their eyes
- Develops a squint (eyes pointing in different directions) or starts complaining about double vision or needs to cover up one eye to see or complaining of blurred vision
- Coordination issues or finding it hard to balance
- Develops weakness in an arm or leg
- Is finding it hard to breathe
- Seems dehydrated (sunken eyes, drowsy or no urine passed for 12 hours)
- Is becoming drowsy (excessively sleepy) or irritable (unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or picking up) – especially if they remain drowsy or irritable despite their fever coming down
- Has extreme shivering or complains of muscle pain
- Continues to have a fever of 38.0°C or above for more than 5 days
- Is getting worse or if you are worried
You need to contact the discharging ward urgently
If none of the above features are present
Self Care
Continue providing your child’s care at home using the advice below. If you are still concerned about your child, speak to your health visitor, local pharmacist or call NHS 111– dial 111. Keep monitoring your child for red and amber features and seek help if they develop
Advice and Guidance
Causes
Meningitis can be caused by bacterial or viral infections. In the case of your child, we think that the cause was likely to be a bacterial infection. It is hard to say how your child will have caught the infection. People can carry bacteria in their nose and throats but aren’t necessarily ill with it. Whether or not people are ill, they can then spread these bacteria by sneezing, coughing, kissing or sharing household objects. Most children don’t tend to get unwell when they are carrying these bacteria but unfortunately a small number do.
Treatment
All children with suspected bacterial meningitis will be started on intravenous (into the bloodstream) antibiotics to treat the common causes of meningitis until we have more information from test results. Your child will have likely undergone blood tests and a lumbar puncture; we test these samples to see if there was a specific bacteria causing the meningitis. We don’t always get an answer, but if we do this helps us to decide which antibiotic we need to use and for how long.
Most children will be able to come home for part of their treatment course. These children would come into hospital daily for their antibiotics to be given or a community nurse would come out to administer them at home.
Complications during treatment
Once your child is on treatment for meningitis and is well enough to go home, they are likely to recover well.
Occasionally children may have complications of meningitis while they are being treated. It is very important to look out for any of their original symptoms coming back.
Contact the hospital if your child has any of these symptoms:
- Fever
- Fast heart beat
- Fast breathing
- Changes in behaviour, such as confusion or disorientation
- Increasing drowsiness
- Has a seizure (fit)
- Develops a continous headache despite regular painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
- Continues to vomit repeatedly
- Develops a severe pain behind their eyes
- Develops a squint (eyes pointing in different directions) or starts complaining about double vision or needs to cover up one eye to see or complaining of blurred vision
- Coordination issues or finding it hard to balance
- Develops weakness in an arm or leg
Your child may need to come into hospital urgently and have further investigations or procedures.
If you are concerned that your child’s condition is getting worse, you should contact the hospital urgently – you’ll find the contact details on the information you were provided with when your child was discharged.
CALL 999 FOR AN AMBULANCE IF YOU HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR YOUR CHILD.
Useful Links:
You will no doubt have lots of other questions, so please ask the team looking after your child. The following organisations also have excellent information on their websites.
Self care and Prevention
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