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A pupil at your child’s school has been admitted to hospital with suspectedis in hospital. Doctors think it is meningococcal disease which. This disease can cause both meningitis and septicaemiatwo illnesses. One is meningitis. Meningitis is when bacteriameans germs reach the meninges (the lining around the brain and spinal cord) and cause. The lining swells, and this is very dangerous swelling. The other illness is septicaemia. Septicaemia is when bacteria enter the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning. means germs get into the blood. They poison the blood.

Both forms of meningococcal disease can trigger sepsis – an overwhelming and life-threatening immune response to infection which can lead to organ failure. illnesses can cause sepsis. Sepsis is when the body fights infection too hard. This can harm the body a lot. It can stop organs from working. It can kill.

This letter givestells you some information about the disease. There is no reason for you to make any change in the school routine and no reason for children to be keptPlease do not worry. Your child can still go to school. School will run as normal. No child needs to stay at home.

The meningococcal bacteria very rarely spreads from child to child withinThis disease does not often spread in class or school. The bacteria that cause the illness live naturally ingerms live at the back of the throat and can spread between people in droplets. They pass in tiny drops from the mouth and nose. Many people carry the bacteria in their throats without becoming unwellgerms. They do not feel ill.

The best way toAntibiotics stop the disease from spreading. is by giving antibiotics to theOnly very close family contacts of the patient with the illnessneed them. That usuallyoften means that only people who live in the same house as the sick child need treatment. School contacts are only very rarely at risk. home. Children at school are almost never at risk.

The people who need treatment have already been identified and treatedhealth team has found those people. They have had their treatment.

The risk of anotherAnother case in the school is very small, butunlikely. But it is sensible to be aware ofhelps to know the main signs. and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, outlined below. You can see them in the table below.

OneYou may see one or more of these symptoms may develop and they can appearsigns. They can come in any order.

Meningococcal disease can be hard to identify at first because it can be like a bad case of flu. However, anyone affected with meningococcal disease will usually become seriously ill within a few hours. You should keep checking your child if they are unwell and contact your GP (family doctor) or NHS 111 for advice if you have any concerns. At first it can look like flu. So it can be hard to spot. A sick person can get very ill within hours. Keep checking your child if they feel unwell. If you are worried, call your GP or NHS 111.

If you becomeare worried about your child’s condition, particularly if they are getting worse, seek medical help urgently at the closest A&E Department or by dialling 999. , act fast. If your child gets worse, get help urgently. Go to A&E or call 999.

Be watchful and use your instincts. Early treatment can be life savingKeep a close watch. Trust what you feel. Getting help early can save a life.

It is important to be aware that meningococcal disease is caused by different groups of meningococcal bacteria. In the UK meningococcal disease is almost always caused by one of four meningococcal groups commonly known as MenB, MenC, MenW or MenY. These groups of meningococcal disease can be prevented with vaccines. MenA disease is rare in the UK but this can also be prevented by vaccinationMany types of germs cause this disease. In the UK it is almost always MenB, MenC, MenW or MenY. Vaccines can stop these types. MenA is rare in the UK. A vaccine can stop MenA too.

The following meningococcalUK gives these vaccines are offered as part of theas routine UK schedule:

MenB vaccine (which protects againststops most cases of MenB disease), routinely offered as. Babies get 3 doses given as part of the infant immunisation programme. They get them at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months of age. Children born in the UK. All children born on or after 1 May 2015 have beenwere offered this vaccine.

Hib-MenC vaccine (which protects againststops MenC disease), routinely offered. Children get it at 12 months. asIt is part of the routine childhood immunisation programmevaccine plan.

MenACWY vaccine (which protects againststops MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY disease) routinely offered. Young people get it at 13 to 15 years of age. old.

AnyoneDid your child miss the teen MenACWY vaccine? If they were born on or after 1 September 1996 who was eligible but missed their teenage MenACWY vaccine can still have the vaccine, they can still have it. They can have it up to their 25th birthday. Anyone who isAre you older and starting university for the first time? You can still have the vaccineit up to theiryour 25th birthday. For a young personIf your child is still at school speak to their, ask the school provider to arrange vaccination otherwise you will need to make an appointment with theirvaccine team. If not, book with your GP practice.

Please ensurecheck your child is up to date with their routine vaccinations with their. Ask your GP practice. Even if theyyour child had MenC vaccine when they were younger, it is important that teenagers get the MenACWY vaccine as it boosts protection against MenC disease and protects against more groups of meningococcal disease. as a baby, they still need MenACWY as a teen. It boosts MenC cover. It also guards against more types.

Be watchfulWatch for signs and symptoms even if your child is up to date with their vaccinations as available vaccines do not protect against all causes of the diseaseafter vaccines. Vaccines do not stop every cause.

All meningococcal vaccines offered to eligible children as part of routine programmes are freely available on the NHS. Vaccines may be available privately for those who are not eligible under these programmes. Meningococcal disease can affect anyone of any age but the national immunisation programmes targetRoutine vaccines are free on the NHS for eligible children. If you are not eligible, you may pay for them privately. This disease can affect any age. But the NHS plan guards those most at risk.