Helena Power Highlights Meningitis Risks After Son Tom’s Diagnosis
Parents must trust their instincts when their children show signs of unusual illness, according to Helena Power, whose son Tom contracted bacterial meningitis as an infant, resulting in lifelong health impacts. Ahead of World Meningitis Day on October 5th, Power shared her family’s experience to raise awareness of the condition, which can develop rapidly in babies and young children.
Early Symptoms and Hospital Admission in Portlaoise
Tom was born in July 2021, and his mother fell ill with group B streptococcus (GBS) sepsis just a week later. Power received treatment at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise and was discharged following a course of antibiotics. When Tom reached three weeks of age, he stopped sleeping, developed a high-pitched cry, and suffered from reflux. Despite a lack of a high temperature or a rash, Power felt a strong instinct that something was wrong and took her son to her general practitioner. The GP recommended immediate hospital admission, where medical staff drew blood and performed a lumbar puncture.
Intensive Care Transfer to Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street
During the hospital evaluation, Tom began vomiting and his hands felt freezing cold. Medical staff raised the possibility of meningitis, and Power observed increased sensitivity to light alongside abnormal head retraction. Doctors transferred Tom to the intensive care unit at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin, where clinicians formally diagnosed him with late-onset Group B streptococcus meningitis. Tom spent two days in the intensive care unit, one week at Temple Street, and another three weeks at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, followed by six weeks of antibiotics at home.
Tom requires shunt surgery for lifelong hydrocephalus
In January, medical scans revealed that Tom developed hydrocephalus, a fluid buildup that places pressure on the brain, requiring the surgical placement of a shunt. Power noted that hydrocephalus is a lifelong condition linked to his meningitis infection, necessitating constant vigilance from the family. Despite undergoing two major surgeries, including the initial shunt insertion and a subsequent revision, Tom started primary school last month and plays both football and hurling.
Support from ACT for Meningitis and Disease Recognition
Power credited Siobhán Carroll of ACT for Meningitis for providing vital support to her family. Siobhán and Noel Carroll founded the national charity in 2011 following the death of their four-year-old daughter, Aoibhe, from the disease. Medical guidelines indicate that meningitis causes swelling of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Common warning signs in infants include refusing feeds, irritability, an unusual high-pitched cry, a bulging soft spot, and floppiness, while older individuals may experience a high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, and a rash that does not fade under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Infant Meningitis
What specific diagnostic tests confirmed Tom’s meningitis?
Hospital staff performed blood tests and a lumbar puncture after Power brought her son to the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.
When was Tom diagnosed with hydrocephalus and how was it treated?
Doctors diagnosed Tom with hydrocephalus in January, and surgeons fitted a shunt to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure on his brain.
Which organization provided support to the Power family during Tom’s illness?
ACT for Meningitis, a national charity founded in 2011 by Siobhán and Noel Carroll, provided guidance and support throughout the family’s experience.
Where was Tom transferred for intensive care treatment?
Medical staff transferred Tom from Portlaoise to the intensive care unit at Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street in Dublin.
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