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Missing the vital signs of meningitis and the need for education
• I WAS concerned to read your article about Dr Roohi Singh who has escaped a practising ban after making an error by missing vital signs that a baby was fatally ill with meningitis (Baby death probe blames ‘systemic failure’ at hospital, May 8).
Eight-month-old Albie Jago was diagnosed with tonsillitis but died later that day from meningococcal septicaemia.
The investigation blamed University College London Hospital for systematic failure after the trainee doctor was plunged into the accident and emergency department on the day he saw Albie.
This tragedy emphasises the importance of early recognition, diagnosis and prompt treatment, and how imperative it is to find a vaccine to protect against all forms of the disease to prevent this happening to others.
Last year we launched our Search 4 a Vaccine campaign, which aims to raise £7 million to fund lifesaving research into developing a vaccine against Meningitis B, the most common form of meningitis in the UK for which there is currently no vaccine.
We receive no government funding and are reliant on the public to help us in our fight against the disease and to raise money to put a stop to the heartache and suffering it causes.
Great advances have been made in the last 20 years, including vaccines against Hib, Meningitis C and Pneumococcal Meningitis, and our scientists believe that a vaccine can be found within the next few years if we can raise £7 million to support the breakthroughs being made.
In the absence of a vaccine to protect against all strains, we also distribute a wide range of material to raise awareness of the common symptoms and need to act quickly, which can mean the difference between life and death.
If any of your readers would like a symptoms information pack, including wallet-sized symptoms cards, or to find out more about supporting our Search 4 a Vaccine campaign, they can call 0117 373 7373 or go to www.meningitisuk.org
Nicola Clarke
Meningitis UK,
Bristol
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