A WOMAN who was lucky to escape death after contracting meningitis is appealing for a free vaccine to be introduced for children.
Pauline Hyland from Coolbanagher near Emo was given just a 5% chance of survival when sudden meningitis led to life-threatening septicaemia.
Although she finally pulled through against the odds, she will suffer the effects of the disease for the rest of her life.
A mother of four, she had to give up her career as an art teacher because of ongoing symptoms, including muscle spasms, severe headaches and memory loss.
Pauline is now urging the government to include the MenB vaccine in the normal childhood vaccination programme.
She says: “I was lucky not to suffer brain damage or lose any of my limbs, as one in three patients do, but I lost my career and I don’t have a day without pain. My life has totally changed.
“I feel it is so important that the vaccine is included in the childhood programme as soon as possible, as it can prevent others suffering the way I have. Meningitis and septicaemia are life-changing diseases that affect not only the patients but their families, too.”
Children are routinely vaccinated against Hib, MenC and 13 strains of pneumococcal meningitis. As a result, vaccines have almost eliminated some forms of the disease.
However, there is still no vaccine in the Primary Childhood Immunisation Schedule to protect against MenB, the biggest cause of meningitis in Ireland.
There are about four cases of meningitis and septicaemia in Ireland every week. The potentially-deadly diseases can strike without warning, killing one in ten and leaving one in three with life-altering effects as severe as brain damage, deafness and loss of limbs.
Last January, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended that the MenB vaccine be introduced to the schedule, subject to cost-effectiveness. The HSE recently asked for €17.9m towards the cost of introducing the vaccine next year.
The final decision lies with the Department of Health and Children and will be made after budget considerations. Meanwhile, the UK began routinely vaccinating children against MenB this month.
Diane McConnell, deputy CEO of the Irish Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), says: “We are now entering a situation whereby children in Northern Ireland are protected against MenB and children in the Republic are not. We are urging health minister Leo Varadkar to introduce the vaccine as soon as possible.”
Children under five and young adults are most at risk from meningitis and septicaemia, but anyone of any age can contract the diseases.
Pauline was in her mid-40s when she was struck by meningitis in May 2011, a few days after returning home from surgery for an unrelated condition. She suddenly became extremely ill, with a stiff neck, shaking and shivering and what she describes as “a headache from hell”.
Pauline Hyland pictured with three of her four children Aoife, Ben and Caoimhe
However, like many patients, she never developed the rash that is typically associated with meningitis. What began as flu-like symptoms one evening developed rapidly, and by 5pm the following day, Pauline was unconscious and near death.
She was rushed to Portlaoise hospital, where she was immediately diagnosed with septicaemia, which might not have developed had she received medical attention earlier.
She recalls: “I was given only a 5% chance of survival and was moved to the coronary care unit. I recovered gradually and spent the following six weeks in and out of hospital. I was lucky to survive and not to lose any limbs, but there hasn’t been a day without pain since. I was an art teacher for 24 years but had to give that up.
“That’s why I feel it is vital for the government to introduce the MenB vaccine, because the pain and life-changing effects I suffered are avoidable.”
While the MenB vaccine brings immunity against the most common form of the disease, not all forms of meningitis are vaccine-preventable. The MRF stresses the importance of being aware of typical symptoms and of acting quickly when those symptoms strike.
In the early stages, meningitis and septicaemia are easily mistaken for milder illnesses such as flug but they can kill within hours and cause serious, life-long disabilities.
Symptoms include fever and/or vomiting, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, pale or mottled skin, a rash anywhere on the body, a stiff neck, breathlessness and a dislike of bright lights.
The MRF has a freefone helpline – 1800 413344 – which provides information to the public and those affected by the disease. There is also information on symptoms, research and case studies at www.meningitis.org.
Meningitis Awareness Week is running from 14-20 September. Donations can be made online or people can contribute €2 from their mobile phone by texting MENB to 50300.
