We had a very sobering address this week delivered by Trevor Quick of the Meningitis Centre Australia, who told us all about the perils and dangers of various types of Meningitis. Meningitis is basically the poisoning of the brain with subsequent swelling and pressure, and is caused by bacteria and viruses which find their way into the base of the spine and then proceed upwards into the brain. The traditional vaccines for various diseases help to block the affliction, but babies are at high risk because they haven’t yet had a chance to be immunised widely. The bacterial form of Meningitis is very threatening, as are Meningococcal and Pneumococcal, and one in ten people who contract these diseases will die. Of the survivors, one in four will have permanent disabilities such as brain damage, loss of limbs, or deafness. Meningococcal B requires costly vaccinations ($500 - $600), and whilst these are provided free of charge in SA, Qld and the NT, they are not freely available in WA! Trevor outlined the various symptoms that many babies with the affliction display, such as high fever, vomiting, sensitivity to light, high pitched crying and a bulging soft spot on the head, and his advice to parents or grandparents who encounter such signs is to seek medical attention urgently and avoid getting stuck in an emergency department queue.