Sir, - I wish to thank Alison O'Connor for her article (July 7th) on "The enigmatic killer" - meningitis. I awaited the follow up article on July 8th with anticipation. I wanted to see where my husband's case fitted into the picture.
My husband is middle-aged. He was strong, healthy and fit. The nightmare began for us in the early hours of New Years' Day 1997, when he was diagnosed as having meningitis. It was later confirmed that he had meningococcal septicaemia, group C. He is alive due to the action of a young doctor who admitted him into the casualty department of Loughlinstown Hospital, to the care and attention he received in the ICU Department of St Vincent's Hospital, where he spent 33 days, to the care he received for almost three months in St Peter's Ward and in St Michael's Ward of St Vincent's Hospital, and because of the prayers of family, friends and colleagues.
The nightmare is still continuing because my husband has suffered and is still suffering the consequences of the illness. When I tell people that he had meningitis they do not believe me, and usually reply: "People of your agegroup do not get meningitis."
Please, please inform your readers that meningitis is not confined to young babies, children and young adults. I want everybody to be aware that it can hit anybody, at any time and that the patient may not have all the symptoms of the disease. - Yours, etc.,
Maura Donnelly,
Bray, Co Wicklow.