If you are unable to work because of Meningococcal Disease 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 TPD claim 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 TPD 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.

Our TPD claim solicitors use a risk free no win no fee arrangement.

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Meningococcal Disease - TPD

Meningococcal diseases are caused by the bacterium known as Meningococcus. There are two types of Meningococcal disease: meningococcal meningitis and bloodborne Meningococcus, called meningococcemia. When it is in the meninges of the brain, it is called Meningococcal meningitis. When it is in the blood only, it is called meningococcemia. Both conditions can occur simultaneously.

The symptoms of meningococcal disease can vary widely, depending on where the disease is most prevalent. There is usually the sudden onset of headache, high fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck and a rash typical of the disease. Infants who have the disease may not have the same symptoms and may instead have irritability, lethargy, vomiting or poor feeding. Seizures are possible if the disease isn’t treated fairly quickly and about 8-15 percent of all cases are fatal.

The symptoms tend to come on very rapidly. It can take just a few hours to develop symptoms which gradually worsen over the course of one to two days. Death can occur within hours of having the symptoms. It generally takes about 2 to 10 days post-exposure to come down with the disease, with the mean dates of symptom onset being 3-4 days.

Many people have Neisseria meningitidis harbored within their nose and throat and do not ever get meningitis or meningococcemia in their lifetime. About 10 percent of the population has Neisseria harbored within their respiratory tract. It isn’t known exactly why some people come to develop severe disease from Neisseria and why others do not. It may be related to the immune system or to genetic predisposition to getting bacterial infections. It is also more likely to occur if the person is a smoker or exposed to smoke, lives in an overcrowded condition or has some physical factors that predispose them to getting disseminated meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease is more common in children under the age of five, college freshmen who live in dormitories and other college students are predisposed to getting the disease. The disease is spread via direct contact with secretions from the respiratory tract. This includes sputum, saliva or nasal mucus from coughing or sneezing or blowing one’s nose. A person can transmit the disease for several days before they become ill and up until there is no Neisseria meningitidis growing from the nose and throat area. There should be no going to school or daycare until treatment has been ongoing for at least 24 hours.

The treatment for meningococcal disease involves the use of specific antibiotics. Some choices include ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and rifampin. The antibiotics are often given by IV or IM. Those who are close contacts of a person who has the disease may need prophylactic treatment. This includes household members, those the patient has been intimate with, those who have performed CPR on the patient, day care students or anyone who has been directly exposed to oral or nasal secretions of the sick patient. Preventative antibiotics are used on these individuals. Those with casual contact do not need to have any specific prophylactic treatment for meningococcal disease.

There is a vaccine for meningococcal disease that has recently come onto the market. It protects against four different serotypes of Meningococcus. The vaccines are called Menactra, and Menomune. The serogroups protected are serogroup C, Y and W-135, which are the most common serotypes. Not all types of Meningococcus are protected against but serogroups common in Africa (serogroup A) is also protected against so these are good vaccines to use in Africa. The vaccine is recommended for teens going to college dorms and teens in general. It is now advised that the new meningococcal vaccines be given during the 11-12 year age group and for teens entering high school.

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