Meningitis??

Question

Iv had a nasty cold an sore throat for a few days an my partners mum has informed me that i should avoid kissing my 3 young kids as they could develop meningitis from my cold. Is this true or is she talking rubbish? x

Answer 1

Unless you in fact have meningitis, they can't catch it from you...gotta love the crazy advice from parents and in-laws  ;)

Answer 2

what a load of c**p!!!!! don't listen to her!! why do mother in lews always make a big thing out of nothing!! my son was a little whezzy when he was a baby & the midiwfe said dont worry! its just crackling noises after his bottle! and my mother in law was sating it could be asthmna?? my son is perfectly healthy!! it does ya head in comments like that doesnt it!!???

Answer 3

thats a load of rubbish, what sort of (future?) mother in law is she?They could catch the cold off you though, thats about it!

Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but they do not live for long outside the body. They are spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing, sharing drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes).

Basically if you dont have menningitis then you cant spread it and trust me, you would definately know if you had menningitis.....id say just humour her and agree with her!

Answer 4

What your partners mum said is NOT true, she has got a little confused with the fact that one of the causes of bacterial meningitis is also the cause of a severe sore throat..Streptococci. Now a severe sore throat can be an early warning sign in someone that then goes rapidly down hill but its more likely just a sore throat. Relax, kiss your kids and ignore what she said.

EVERYONE should read up on the facts of meningitis, be familiar with its symptoms, it is such a fast acting disease that for-warned is for-armed and could make the difference between life and death.

Answer 5

God she's helpful isn't she? Sounds like she got her advice from the same book as my mum, 'The useless book of old wives c**p'

The only thing your children will catch from you is your cold. You can't give them what you havent got so don't worry.

My daughter had mild measles when she was a baby after her jabs. My mum told me if i took her out in the sun she'd get brain damage. How daft is that?

Anyway, 17 years on and my daughter is fine, so your not the only person who hears rubbish from parents/in laws.

Answer 6

rubbish.......i've never said that word b4

Answer 7

She's talking rubbish.

They might catch a cold though.