If you are unable to work because of Meningitis you may be able to make a TPD claim for a lump sum from the Total & Permanent Disablement insurance contained within your superannuation fund. There is no necessity for you to have been involved in an accident or to have suffered a work related injury to make a TPD claim. If you suffer from total and permanent disability, you may be able to make a TPD claim in addition to receiving your super early as a result of your condition. Our solicitors can advise you in detail as to the requirements of a successful submission, they will prepare all relevant paperwork and will obtain full supporting documentation. Our lawyers will give you advice on the likely success of your claim to a super fund, without further obligation. It costs nothing to use our advice service.

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Meningitis - TPD

Meningitis is an inflammation and infection of the lining of the brain, called the meninges. It surrounds the brain and spinal cord and the infection can be anywhere in those areas. Its most common symptoms include headache, stiff neck and fever. Most cases are viral but there can be fungal and bacterial meningitis as well. If caused by a virus, it goes away in a couple of weeks. If it is bacterial, it can be highly dangerous.

The early symptoms of meningitis seem a lot like the flu but progress to be more related to the head and the brain. The main symptoms are a severe headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, problems concentrating, confusion, seizures, sensitivity to light, tiredness or difficulty waking, loss of appetite or thirst, and sometimes a skin rash in viral or meningococcal disease.

Newborns with meningitis may not have the obvious symptoms. There can be a high fever, excessive irritability or sleepiness, inactivity or sluggishness, poor feeding, constant crying, a bulging fontanelle, seizures, bodily stiffness and neck stiffness.

There are several types of meningitis including viral meningitis, which improves on its own in several days, bacterial meningitis, which can come on abruptly and needs immediate antibiotics in order to save the person’s life, and fungal meningitis. Causes of bacterial meningitis include Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is the most common type seen in infants and young children. It normally causes pneumonia, ear infections or sinus infections that can spread to the meninges. Neisseria meningitidis or meningococcal disease is another cause of meningitis. It causes a classic rash along with the above symptoms of meningitis and is highly lethal unless treated promptly. It is especially common in teens and college-age students.

Haemophilias influenzae used to be the leading cause of meningitis in children but it is now much less since children are receiving Haemophilias vaccinations in early infancy. If it occurs, you tend to see it in infants who have had a respiratory infection, sinus infection or ear infection. Listeria monocytogenes is a rarer bacterium that is found in soil and in contaminated foods such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and lunch meats. It is also carried by wild and tame animals. It is more commonly seen in pregnant women, newborns, and in older adults.

Viral meningitis causes more cases of meningitis than do bacteria. It is usually a fairly mild case of meningitis that clears spontaneously within 2 weeks. Most are caused by enteroviruses but other types of viruses can cause this disease. The major symptoms include sore throat, rash, diarrhoea, joint aches and headaches. The viruses tend to become more active in the latter part of summer and the early part of autumn.

There is such a thing as chronic meningitis. The organisms that cause it are slow growing and affect the fluid around the meninges as well as the meninges. It develops over time and lasts longer than two weeks. This is fortunately a rare type of meningitis.

Fungal meningitis is also fairly rare. It is caused primarily by Cryptococcus organisms and is most common in those who have AIDS or another immune dysfunction.

The diagnosis of meningitis can be done with blood cultures showing growth of abnormal organisms, CT scans of the head, and a spinal tap, which can grow out bacteria, viruses or fungi. It can also show an elevated white blood cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid.

The treatment of meningitis depends on the type of meningitis you have. You need pain control, IV fluids and IV antibiotics in bacterial infections. Medications like hydrocortisone can be given to control the inflammation of the meninges. Treatment for shock is given and anticonvulsants may be necessary to control seizures. The spinal tap can guide the type of antibiotic that can be used to treat the disease.

In viral meningitis, treatment is supportive and includes bed rest, the giving of plenty of fluids, over the counter fever and pain medications and antiviral infections if the virus is caused by a herpes virus.

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