Proudly Brought to you by
Reach Outt at Engage@Central
For
The Amanda Young Foundation
Some people enter our lives and stay a while
Others come, we blink and are gone
But they leave their signatures on our hearts
And we are never the same again.
Courtesy Adrian Monger
• The Foundation was formed by
Amanda’s parents Barry and
Lorraine Young in 1998
following her tragic death from
meningococcal septicaemia at
the tender age of 18 years.
• The Amanda Young Foundation
is a non-profit community
organisation dedicated to
reducing deaths in WA from
meningococcal disease, and
supporting survivors of the
disease.
Barry and Lorraine Young, founders of The Amanda Young
Foundation. Photograph taken in ‘Amanda’s Memorial Garden’
• The Foundation is also
committed to supporting the
development of young people
into WA’s future leaders
Funding Research
Providing funding for
relevant medical research
and encouraging
increased research into
meningococcal disease;
Meningococcal
Awareness and
Education
Increasing awareness and
educating the community and
medical profession regarding
meningococcal disease;
Fundraising Events
Young Leaders
Summit
Organising an annual
camp for year 11
school students
across the state to
support and
encourage the
development of
leadership skills
Main annual events
include the Amanda
Young Foundation
Charity Ball held in May
each year, the Open
Garden at Romancing
the Stone garden in
Maida Vale, and
Amanda’s Garden
Fete, a weekend event
in October each year.
MENINGOCOCCAL
DISEASE
Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or
meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the
meningococcus germ that can cause death within hours if not recognised or treated
in time.
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria (germs) called meningococci, also
known as Neisseria meningitidis.
This disease is caused by a bacteria, NOT by a virus.
These bacteria are divided into 13 ‘serogroups’.
In Australia, serogroup B is the cause of most meningococcal disease (Better Health
Channel, 2011)
This disease can appear in
several different forms
 Meningitis (bacterial form)
 Septicemia (blood poisoning)
 or as a combination of both.
 10% of those infected will DIE.
 20% will have permanent DISABILITIES.
WHO’S @ RISK?
Meningococcal disease can strike both children and adults anywhere, at
any time. But those most at risk are:
• Babies and
children up to
the age of 5
years – this
group accounts
for two thirds of
cases (due to
their less
mature immune
system and
tendency to put
things in their
mouth and
share food,
drink and toys).
• Teenagers and
young adults from
15 to 25 years –
primarily because
of the socially
interactive lifestyle
they lead, which is
more likely to
involve intimate
activities such as
kissing and sharing
drinks.
• Smoking and
passive smoking –
increase the risk of
infection.
• Winter and early
spring – the many
viruses around can
weaken the body’s
natural immune
system. There's
also the risk of
catching a virus
first, followed a
few days later by a
meningococcal
infection, making
the illness much
harder to identify.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fever
Refusing to take feeds
Irritability, fretfulness
Grunting or moaning
Extreme tiredness or
floppiness
6. Dislike of being handled
7. Nausea and/or vomiting
8. Diarrhoea
9. Turning away from light
(photophobia)
10. Drowsiness
11. Convulsions or twitching
12. Rash of red–purple
pinprick spots or larger
bruises.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Fever
Headache
Loss of appetite
Neck stiffness
Discomfort when looking at
bright lights (photophobia)
6. Nausea and/or vomiting
7. Diarrhoea
8. Aching or sore muscles
9. Painful or swollen joints
10. Difficulty walking
11. General malaise
12. Moaning, unintelligible
speech
13. Drowsiness
14. Confusion
15. Collapse
16. Rash of red–purple pinprick
spots or larger bruises.
CATCHING THE DISEASE
 Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria, NOT by a virus.
 It is transmitted via saliva
 Meningococcal bacteria can live harmlessly in our throat and
nose
 Around 20% percent of people will be carrying these
bacteria at any one time without ever becoming ill.
 In fact, all of us will carry them at some stage in our lives
 High risk environments:





Day care
Nightclubs
School camps
Parties
Etc
• Spreading of bacteria by:
 Sneezing
 Intimate kissing
 Coughing
 Sharing food or
drinks
THE DEADLY RASH
A distinctive appearance of a rash is often the FINAL
DEADLIEST symptoms of septicaema.
What causes the rash?
 The bacteria leak poisons which damage the walls of the
blood vessels, so the blood leaks into the skin – causing
the rash.
 It can start off either as a pink rash, or as tiny red or purple
blood spots, like pinpricks, anywhere on the body – which
rapidly spread into purple blotches or bruises.
 The victim can literally bleed to death if not treated in time.
Image 1:
The rash has many stages and forms
Image 2:
The bacteria leak poisons which damage the walls
of the blood vessels, so the blood leaks into the skin
– causing the rash.
Image 3:
It may start off anywhere on the body – as a faint
pink rash, a red spot or blister, or as tiny red or
purple pinpricks.
The ‘Glass Test’
 Some doctors and Foundations refer to the
‘drinking glass’ or ‘pressure' test.
 Pressing a clear tumbler firmly against the rash,
to see if it fades under pressure (like a harmless
rash does), or stays red, indicating a septicemic
rash.
Image 4: The glass test
 The concern with this test is that it is NOT 100%
reliable, especially in the early stages, and can
give you a false sense of security.
 You need to keep testing at regular intervals.
 However if a rash appears, along with other
symptoms, it's wise not to wait around trying to
diagnose it yourself, but go straight to a doctor
or hospital.
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS
While the majority of sufferers will make a full recovery from meningococcal
disease, around 5 percent will die and another 20 percent will suffer longterm consequences, such as:









headaches
tiredness
memory loss
concentration problems
disruptive behaviour
mood swings
sight problems
deafness
learning difficulties





epilepsy
chronic fatigue syndrome
liver or kidney failure
paralysis
skin scarring due to skin
grafts
 amputated limbs, fingers or
toes
ACTIONS & PREVENTIONS
Taking actions





Be AWARE of the symptoms
Be ALERT to recognise the signs
Be ASSERTIVE in seeking urgent medical treatment
MONITOR the patient closely
Treat the rash as EMERGENCY
Preventions
Don’t share:
 Food, dips, ice-creams
 Drinks, bottles, straws
 Lipstick or lip gloss
 Toothbrushes
 Cigarettes
 Mouth guards
 Musical instruments
with mouth pieces
Also:
 Don't suck the end of a
shared pen or pencil
 Don't suck baby's dummy
before putting it in baby's
mouth
 watch out for toddlers sucking
and sharing toys
 Don't use anyone else's
lip gloss or lipstick
Vaccination
 The predominant strains of meningococcal bacteria differ from country
to country, and even from region to region. Although there are NO
vaccines available for all strains of the disease, there is a vaccine for Cstrain. Having this vaccine means you will at least be PARTIALLY
protected against meningococcal disease.
 Travel vaccine
There is a travel vaccine which gives SHORT TERM protection against
some of the strains more common in other countries. Check with your
doctor.
 Warning
Remember, while vaccination will give you long term protection against
the deadly C-strain, it WILL NOT protect you from catching another
strain with the same symptoms, which can also cause death. So it's still
important to be vigilant, and to take other precautions.
Data taken from The Meningococcal site, http://www.meningococcalaustralia.org.au/the_disease.html
References:





The Better Health Channel, Meningococcal Disease, Retrieved: 15 November 2011, from
http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/meningococcal/fact_sheet.htm
The Meningacoccal Education, Retrived: 15 November 2011 from
http://www.meningococcal.org/the_disease.html
Department of Health New York, Meningococcal Disease, July 2011, Retrieved: 15 November 2011
from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Meningococcal_disease
The Meningacoccal, Australia be aware, Retrieved from: 15 November 2011 from
http://www.meningococcalaustralia.org.au/the_disease.html
Meningococcal Australia Inc., 2003, Retrieved from: 15 November 2011 from
http://www.meningococcal-australia.org.au/main/symptoms.html
References for images:
 Image 1: http://www.meningococcal.org/images/page_images/513.jpg
 Image 2: http://www.meningococcal.org/images/page_images/522.jpg
 Image 3: http://www.meningococcal.org/images/page_images/512.jpg
 Image 4: The glass test, http://www.meningococcalaustralia.org.au/img/disease-glass-test01.jpg