I am very hesitant to second guess Edwarda's attending physicians. They have an education and experience that far exceeds my own. Having said that though, I remember seeing symptoms such as those Edwarda has mentioned when I was in the Army over 30 years ago. I was a preventive medicine specialist, and my job included researching and reporting on communicable diseases, most of all meningococcal meningitis (or bacterial meningitis).
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by a small bacterium named Neisseria meningitidis. There are three types of NM, labeled as Types A, B and C respectively. I think later research may have uncovered a Type D. One of them is extremely virulent (Type C?) and another is much less virulent (Type A?), which, given the relatively long incubation period for the symptoms, is what I suspect she may have.
The symptoms are identical to those mentioned by Edwarda in her messages posted here, and occurred within the "normal" incubation period and in the "normal" sequence.
Initial symptoms include a mild upper respiratory infection, aching sinuses with or without infection, sniffles, a very high fever, severe headaches, and a stiff neck, all of which may lead to a misdiagnosis of influenza or a common cold. Symptoms progress into loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (rarely), sweating and dehydration, general weakness and tiredness. These symptoms are often mistaken for food poisoning. Other symptoms include a loss of cognizance of one's surroundings and a general state of confusion, if one is a smoker, one loses the desire to smoke. Patients report feeling more comfortable in the dark, as direct sunlight bothers them. Some patients even have seizures. One sure visible sign of the disease is the presence of petechia, though you may need a magnifying glass to see them on the soft undersides of the body (especially the belly and the inner arms & thighs). Petechia is usually, but not always present in the patient.
Not knowing any test results or even what tests have been requested, I would mention that meningococcal meningitis is relatively easy to diagnose once you know what you're looking for. A spinal tap is needed, and a culture is grown from the spinal fluid. Doctors are sometimes hesitant to order a spinal tap, as it is an extremely painful procedure. A visual examination of the fluid would likely show cloudiness or even particulates within the fluid should the bacterium be present.
Treatment for the disease is by massive doses of antibiotics. If the disease is meningococcal meningitis, speed is of the essence. The longer treatment is withheld, the higher the mortality rates.
Don't blame the physicians for not considering meningococcal meningitis, should that prove to be the culprit. The disease is relatively rare, and very uncommon in someone of Edwarda's age. Most doctors have likely never seen the disease, and it most certainly wouldn't be at the top of their list when looking for causes.
The disease is not insect borne. The bacterium is present in a large part of the human population, in the throat tissues. Its' presence is usually innocuous. It is only when the lining of the throat becomes penetrated (such as a tiny rip or tear) that the bacterium can find its' way through the bloodstream into the fluid surrounding the brain and causes an infection.
KJC |
