A MUM has shared a distressing video of her little girl with a bulge on the top of her head – which indicated she had a potentially fatal infection.
Although she didn’t know the significance of the lump at the time, she took little Sage to the hospital quickly and was relieved she didn’t wait any longer before seeking medical help.
Tiny Hearts Education
The video was shared on Tiny Hearts Education Instagram, a first-aid channel for parents based in Australia.
“Yesterday, I noticed my daughter’s fontanelle was raised,” the mum recalled.
Fontanelles are the soft spots on an infant’s head where the bony plates that make up the skull have not yet come together.
It is normal for infants to have these soft spots, which can be seen and felt on the top and back of the head.
If your baby’s fontanelles look abnormally large or raised, this may indicate a medical condition, and the child should be seen by a medical professional immediately.
“I brought her into hospital, and she got treated for meningitis straight away,” the mum explained.
“She ended up having 15 seizures.”
Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord that can be deadly if not treated quickly.
It can cause life-threatening blood poisoning (sepsis) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
The mum “wasn’t even aware” that a raised fontanelle was a sign of a serious condition.
Other common signs can include a fever, cold hands and feet, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion, irritability, and severe muscle pain.
Pale blotchy skin, rashes, severe headaches, stiff necks, disliking bright lights and seizures can also be hallmarks of the condition.
Meningitis Now said: “Symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all.”
The charity has previously urged parents not to wait for a rash to appear if they suspect their child is ill.
It said: “A child with meningitis or septicaemia can get a lot worse very quickly. Keep checking them.
“Trust your instincts – get medical help immediately.”
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E, the NHS advises.
Patients diagnosed with meningitis are usually treated in a hospital for at least a week.
This normally involves antibiotics, fluids and oxygen and results in a full recovery.
It is also a good idea to make sure your child is up to date with their NHS vaccinations.
Around one in 10 children has not had their latest free dose against deadly diseases like polio, measles and meningitis, according to the health service.
Vaccinations which offer some protection against meningitis
Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.
These include the:
MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged eight weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at one year
6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age
Pneumococcal vaccine – two doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and one year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over
Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at one year of age
MMR vaccine – offered to babies at one year and a second dose at three years and four months
MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and “fresher” students going to university for the first time
Source: NHS