Carla
Dear Grandma: Twenty-five years ago my daughter contracted spinal meningitis while in the hospital nursery. One of the nurses was working while she was being treated for strep throat. Today, my daughter is 25 and has several disabilities due to the illness. She is mildly retarded (functions at 7-12 years old), has partial paralysis on the left side of body, is visually impaired, has short term memory problems and is classified as "trainable mentally impaired. But with the help of the education system and caring, patient doctors, she is doing fine. If your grandson attends an over-crowded school your daughter would be wise to take him to a pediatrician or her family doctor for an immunization shot. My son attends college and it is required, at least in Michigan, for college bound students to have these shots. If you grandson should become irritable, high fever, and sensitivity to light, seek medical help. The after effects of such an illness are so varied, my daughter was not as fortunate as other children who suffered with the illness at the same time; however, others did die. It is so hard to tell what will happen. When she was admitted to a children's hospital, the pediatrician there told his students what treatment was being used for her and "frankly, he didn't know why she was alive." There is reason for you to be cautious, but please, don't be panicky! Check with your daughter about your grandson getting the immunization against meningitis!