Surviving and Understanding Meningitis

Jan. 29, 2007— -- I could never forget what happened when I was 8 years old. It's been nearly 10 years, and I'm still scared when I realize how close I was to facing my own death. I hope I never have to experience that feeling again as long as I live.

On the morning of May 12, I woke with a sore throat, fever and an upset stomach. I remember my fever was low, but I still had chills. The chills were so bad that my bed shook, and I was unable to hold my teddy bear or favorite toy. I began to hallucinate -- as I were watching TV. It seemed as though I was a part of the action.

I wasn't thinking straight at the time, and had trouble seeing clearly. My mother took me to the doctor's office, where I was told I had a virus. The doctors instructed me to take some Tylenol and to come back later.

As we were leaving my mom showed the doctor that I had developed spots on my legs. That was when my normally easygoing doctor became panic stricken. I heard him say, "She needs to go to the closest hospital now!"

My mother talked to another doctor who specialized in infectious diseases. He told her I had meningococcal meningitis. I was rushed to the hospital and given high-dose steroids and an antibiotic.

The last thing I remember was seeing the needle for the spinal tap.

At the time, I didn't realize I had come close to being another victim of a disease that kills hundreds of thousands of children worldwide every year.

--Kaeley Hamilton, meningitis survivor

Earlier this month, an outbreak of meningitis swept across the Northeast, sparking fear and concern among parents and health officials.

While there have been no additional reports of infection, the incident underscores the importance of understanding this potentially deadly disease and identifying the symptoms as soon as they appear.

Meningitis is a result of an inflammation of the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. This is usually the result of some type of infection, either bacterial or viral. The first symptoms resemble the flu -- severe headache and fever, vomiting and lethargy.