The parents of a girl, aged one, who was struck down with a severe case of meningitis have urged others to ensure their children are vaccinated against the preventable disease.
Paul and Julie McLoughlin were travelling back to the UAE after a holiday back home in the UK when their daughter Vienna suddenly fell ill last year.
Doctors said the toddler had most likely picked up a strain of bacterial meningitis that is uncommon in the UAE, while a vaccine against the infection is not part of routine childhood infection programmes in the country.
The timeline between the first symptom and the time when the patient enters the ICU can be less than 24 hours
Prof Walid Abuhammour,
Al Jalila Children’s Hospital
Meningitis is a severe bacterial infection and inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms include headache, fever, nausea and occasionally seizures, which are particularly dangerous in younger children due to their developing immune systems.
Although Vienna has made a full recovery in the months since her illness, the sudden onset of symptoms and rapid deterioration in her health shocked her parents, and led to a two-week stay in hospital and emergency treatment in an intensive care unit.
“We had been back in Dubai for just two days when the symptoms started,” said Ms McLoughlin, who works in operations at Blossoms Nursery.
“Vienna went to bed the night before really happy and then by 8am, she had a 40°C fever, was vomiting and lethargic. It came on really quickly.”
As there was no telltale rash that can indicate meningitis, doctors sent the family home with medication to reduce her fever.
When that failed to take effect, the family returned to hospital later that evening when a rash began to spread across her body.
Intensive care
Vienna was taken to King’s College Hospital near where the family lived in Dubai Hills, but as there is no intensive care unit there they were advised to her to Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, a short drive away.
“It was a very fast deterioration from that point,” said Ms McLoughlin.
“That was the chilling moment that I knew this was really serious.
“Vienna had all the DHA [Dubai Health Authority] approved vaccines and I wasn't actually aware that this didn't include meningitis.”
Vienna shows no long-term effects of the illness but she was lucky.
Health authorities around the world recommend parents vaccinate children against Neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that causes meningitis, although it is not usually a mandatory component of childhood vaccination programmes.
Childhood vaccines typically cover protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria tetanus, pertussis, polio, rabies, hepatitis B, rotavirus, haemophilus, influenza type B and tuberculosis, but rarely meningitis.
Some countries, such as the US, recommend all children aged 11-12 receive a meningococcal vaccine to protect against meningitis, followed by a booster at 16. Similar advice is given in Australian and UK schools.
“We were so frustrated when we learnt that this was preventable,” said Mr McLoughlin.
“We hadn’t known that she didn’t receive the vaccine as part of her routine childhood vaccines, so we quickly made the decision to vaccinate her after this experience.
“You absolutely can’t put a price on your child’s life.”
Prof Walid Abuhammour, consultant in paediatric infectious diseases at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, said meningitis can spread quickly into the brain with serious long-lasting effects if not dealt with quickly.
“Often, the timeline between the first symptom and the time when the patient enters the ICU can be less than 24 hours, which makes every hour extremely critical for healthcare professionals, and even parents,” he said.
“Meningitis can be devastating and, more importantly, in the early stages, it can be deceiving to any doctor. It can be tricky for us to spot meningitis symptoms in time.”
More than 1.2 million cases of bacterial meningitis are reported globally each year, with around 10 per cent of those dying from the infection, the World Health Organisation said.
“Meningitis can affect all ages with a higher risk in the young children,” said Dr Nashwa Dyab, specialist in family medicine at Saudi German Hospital in Dubai.
“The most common dangerous type is bacterial meningitis and it can be fatal in a short time.
“Vaccines are considered best in protecting against common types of bacterial meningitis.”
“Meningitis is a serious condition,” said Dr Vishal Pawar, specialist neurologist at Aster Clinic, Discovery Gardens, Dubai.
“Early symptoms often include fever, headache and a stiff neck, making prompt medical evaluation crucial.
“Individuals with compromised immune systems, the elderly and those living in crowded settings are more vulnerable to infection.
“Vaccination and good hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, are key preventive measures. Timely diagnosis and treatment are essential for better outcomes.”
'Tell the Machine Goodnight' by Katie Williams
Penguin Randomhouse
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
5.30pm Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige | Dh110,000 | 1,400m
6pm Abu Dhabi Championship Listed | Dh180,000 | 1,600m
6.30pm Maiden | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
7pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
7.30pm Handicap (TB) |Dh100,000 | 2,400m
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
The%20specs
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
My Cat Yugoslavia by Pajtim Statovci
Pushkin Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
WHEN TO GO:
September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.
WHERE TO STAY:
Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Profile of Bitex UAE
Date of launch: November 2018
Founder: Monark Modi
Based: Business Bay, Dubai
Sector: Financial services
Size: Eight employees
Investors: Self-funded to date with $1m of personal savings
Mountain%20Boy
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UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Match info
Manchester United 4
(Pogba 5', 33', Rashford 45', Lukaku 72')
Bournemouth 1
(Ake 45 2')
Red card: Eric Bailly (Manchester United)
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
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Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
More coverage from the Future Forum
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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Company%20Profile
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