AFL great’s plea after family scare

Podcaster and author Felicity Harley said she still had vivid memories of driving her then five-week-old son Hugo to hospital when he became ill.

Hugo has since recovered, but at the time he was fighting for his life.

It’s an experience Ms Harley says has driven her to warn other families about the need to be aware of meningococcal symptoms.

“I still vividly remember driving my incredibly ill baby to the hospital and not knowing if he would live,” Ms Harley said.

“Acting quickly on the first symptoms may have saved his life.”

In retrospect, Mrs Harley says she didn’t know a lot about the disease.

“I didn’t have a lot of information about the different strains of meningococcal or the range of symptoms until my own baby was hospitalised,” Ms Harley said.

“I wish I had been aware of all the symptoms, the different types of meningococcal bacteria that circulate in Australia and the rapid speed at which this infection can progress.

“I would encourage all parents to speak with their doctors about how to help reduce risks for their families and to not hesitate if they suspect meningococcal disease.”

Meningococcal is a rare but potentially deadly bacterial infection which can come on suddenly.

Most patients survive, but it can also cause long-term health problems including brain damage and hearing loss.

Symptoms can be similar to cold and flu and include fever, headaches, joint pain, nausea and vomiting and red-purple spots or bruises.

According to a survey by pharmaceutical company GSK of 300 Australian parents, only about a third (36 per cent) understood that meningococcal symptoms were similar to the flu.

NSW GP Dr Sam Hay said while meningococcal was rare, it can have devastating outcomes.

“We know that between five to 25 per cent of the general population carry the bacteria at any one time without showing illness or symptoms,” Dr Hay said.

“For those who do contract the disease and show early symptoms, it’s often difficult to attribute them to meningococcal disease, because they can resemble common flu-like infections.

“To understand how to best protect your family, it is important for parents and caregivers to be vigilant, to recognise the symptoms and also understand what can be done to help prevent meningococcal disease.”