I wonder if anyone can offer advice please about the meningitis vaccine that's offered to children aged around 11-12 in the UK.

One of my patients is doing well on a remedy but I fear that the vaccination which his mother is intending to permit him to have at school soon may challenge homoeopathic treatment.

The patient's mother has had meningitis and she suspects that as an infant, her son - the patient in question - has had meningitis. Is there any test for antibodies which might show that he is already immune?
Anything else I could do to inform or reassure the parent?
The child has a Calc constitution with a tendency to have Bell acutes so I am concerned that he could react.

Many thanks for your advice in advance.

You might query the effectiveness and possible risks of the jab. You can pass on information about choices. Contact JABS on 01942 713565 or 01204 796433 or 0191 2623360. The informed parent on 0181 861 1022 may also be able to help. I have a list of sites on vaccination somewhere if you are still stuck repost and I'll try and dig them out. The WDDTY vaccination handbook lists the Hib vaccination as ineffective in preventing meningitis and some 60 out of every 100,000 children contract hib-caused meningitis. Of those, between 3-6.5 % will die and 14% have continuing problems,such as deafness or seizures. 200 such deaths known in the UK in last 10 years. You might mention how effectve remedies are for treating this with Belladonna etc!

[This message has been edited by Frank Hicks (edited 05 May 2000).]

Frank, that's much appreciated thanks.
You seem to have your information far more organised than I have mine! Papers and files everywhere, but I never know where to lay my hands on anything!

There are many types of Meningitis. (Menigitis is only a description of an infamation of the meninges, ie: lining of the brain)
Meningitis can be caused by ANY type of bacteria, virus, or fungus. These things cause your garden variety types of illness in the majority of people, but only a few would actually develop meningitis via predispositions, first encounter with the germ after another respiratory illness, or a possible break in the protective linings of the brain.

HiB (haemophilus) meningitis is not a big concern for children over age 5.
Neisseria meningitis, which is what the vaccine your patient's mother is considering, is for one particular bacteria, and then only a certain type of that bacteria.

One thing that you might tell the mother is that these bacteria (even haemophilus and Neisseria), virus, and fungus are in the evironment all the time. MANY people just carry these bacteria in their respiratory and nasal passages without any problem. They are what is termed "ubiquitous" (ever present).

Yes , the push is on for Vaccines for darn near everthing. My opinion...and this is coming from a public health nurse of 7 years... is that this vaccine push is courting disaster in the future. Rather than incurring natural exposure to many pathogens while young (when immune systems are stronger) these people...after their immunizations wear off,(studies show maybe a 10 year immunity to Neisseria) will be exposed at older ages and pay a big price.

Look at how chicken pox or mumps effects an older person. Much more devastating for an older person!

Hope I have been at least a little help

Zmyst

Zymyst, you have indeed.
Many thanks for sharing your expertise.

Anna - the current meningitis vaccination protects only against the "C" virus but there are more cases in UK of the "B" for which there is no vaccine.

Incidently I was at a school when they were vaccinating the kids and they were going down like ninepins, mostly from nausea and more worryingly from not being able to focus their eyes and blurred vision. I was in for a talk by medical professionals about this vaccination and it was advised if possible to keep the kids under close watch for 20 mins after the vaccination incase of fits!! No comment needed!

Thankyou Zymst and Ricky for helping me understand this better.

Likewise, thanks for that on-the-spot account Ricky.
What a mercy there's gentle medicine thanks to good old Sam H.

Hi Anna
Just want to say hi to you i am not studying homoeopathic but i am watching that you all are master in your feid and also very kind and caring and i love you for your kindness and respact you all. bye

If one took a closer look at mercurius, one would find all these symptomes there.

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Homeopat MNNH Geir E.T. Marcussen
email: getm@eunet.no
http://www.homeopati.no