proudly brought to you by reach o utt at engage@central for the amanda young foundation
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Amanda Young Awareness Day. Proudly Brought to you by Reach O utt at Engage@Central For The Amanda Young Foundation. Amanda Louise Young 6 th of September 1979 - 12 th of October 1997. Some people enter our lives and stay a while Others come, we blink and are gone - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Proudly Brought to you by
Reach Outt at Engage@CentralFor
The Amanda Young Foundation
Amanda Young
Awareness Day
Amanda Louise Young
6th of September 1979 - 12th of October 1997
Some people enter our lives and stay a whileOthers come, we blink
and are goneBut they leave their
signatures on our heartsAnd 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.
• The Foundation is also committed to supporting the development of young people into WA’s future leaders
Support, awareness and reducing deaths in WA from meningococcal disease.
Barry and Lorraine Young, founders of The Amanda Young Foundation. Photograph taken in ‘Amanda’s Memorial Garden’
Meningococcal Awareness and
Education Increasing awareness and
educating the community and medical profession regarding
meningococcal disease;
Funding Research Providing funding for
relevant medical research and encouraging
increased research into meningococcal disease;
Young Leaders Summit
Organising an annual camp for year 11 school students
across the state to support and
encourage the development of leadership skills
Fundraising EventsMain 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.
Helping Our Community
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)
What is MENINGOCOCAL DISEASE?
Meningitis (bacterial form) Septicemia (blood poisoning) or as a combination of both.
10% of those infected will DIE.
20% will have permanent DISABILITIES.
What is MENINGOCOCAL DISEASE?
This disease can appear in several different forms
WHO’S @ RISK?
• 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.
WHO’S @ RISK?Meningococcal disease can strike both children and adults anywhere, at any time. But those most at risk are:
SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
1. Fever2. Refusing to take feeds3. Irritability, fretfulness4. Grunting or moaning5. Extreme tiredness or
floppiness6. Dislike of being
handled7. Nausea and/or vomiting
8. Diarrhoea9. Turning away from light
(photophobia)10.Drowsiness11.Convulsions or
twitching12.Rash of red–purple
pinprick spots or larger bruises.
Symptoms in infants and young children
1. Fever2. Headache3. Loss of appetite4. Neck stiffness5. Discomfort when looking at
bright lights (photophobia)6. Nausea and/or vomiting7. Diarrhoea8. Aching or sore muscles9. Painful or swollen joints
10. Difficulty walking11. General malaise12. Moaning, unintelligible
speech13. Drowsiness14. Confusion15. Collapse16. Rash of red–purple pinprick
spots or larger bruises.
Symptoms in older children and adults
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 RASHA distinctive appearance of a rash is often the FINAL DEADLIEST symptoms of septicaema.
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.
What causes the rash?
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.
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.
Image 4: The glass test
THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS
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
While the majority of sufferers will make a full recovery from meningococcal disease, around 5 percent will die and another 20 percent will suffer long-term consequences, such as:
ACTIONS & PREVENTIONS
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
Taking actions
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
Preventions
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 C-strain. Having this vaccine means you will at least be PARTIALLY protected against meningococcal disease.
Travel vaccineThere is a travel vaccine which gives SHORT TERM protection against some of the strains more common in other countries. Check with your doctor.
WarningRemember, 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.
Vaccination
Data taken from The Meningococcal site, http://www.meningococcalaustralia.org.au/the_disease.html
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
References: