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Clinician's Guide to Recognition and Early Management of Meningococcal Disease in Children

by Dr Nelly Ninis, St Mary's Hospital, London; Dr Simon Nadel, St Mary's Hospital, London; Linda Glennie, Meningitis Research Foundation

This CDRom, launched in May 2007, is an interactive e-learning tool that enables doctors to learn from real cases of meningitis and septicaemia. It is based on a nationwide study1 , funded by the Foundation, that showed us where doctors make errors in diagnosis and management. Integrating text, video clips, clinical photos, sound files, charts, and illustrations, the CDRom allows the user to evaluate steps in the diagnosis and management of each case presented.

The main aims of the tool are to show doctors in training:

  • The clinical differences between septicaemia and meningitis
  • How to assess a febrile child for signs of invasive bacterial infection
  • How to assess and start managing sick children with meningococcal disease
  • An outline of basic management in line with the algorithm Early Management of Meningococcal Disease in Children (5th edition) 2

You can order the CDRom free of charge by visiting our on-line resource centre.

The e-learning tool can be accessed at http://etool.meningitis.org

This is identical to the CDRom version, except that video clips are replaced with stills from the videos accompanied by sound files. This web-version can be accessed using a PDA. 

The web-version is also available at www.ocbmedia.com/meningitis.

Note in these web based version there is a MHRA safety update: avoid first line use of ceftriaxone where calcium infusion may be used http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/Record%20Viewing/viewRecord.aspx?id=587080

This material is available as a booklet Lessons from research for doctors in training: Recognition and early management of meningococcal disease in children and young people - 2nd edition.

The original booklet (the "parent" of the current e-learning tool) was launched in 2004. When we evaluated it, doctors asked us to make it available in electronic format.  Doctors also asked for more clinical photos, more cases with positive outcomes, and information on lumbar puncture and on public health management were also requested, and the current resources include this.

These resources were developed through consultation with doctors in paediatrics, emergency medicine, and intensive care, and with resuscitation officers. They are endorsed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and by the College of Emergency Medicine.

The booklet can be ordered from the Foundation free of charge by visiting our on-line resource centre  

The booklet  is provided here as a PDF.

 Junior Doctor Handbook 2nd Edition


A PDF of the booklet can also be downloaded at www.rcpch.ac.uk

These materials have been developed with the help of a grant from the Department of Health, London.

1. Ninis N, Phillips C, Bailey L, Pollock JI, Nadel S, Britto J, Maconochie I, Winrow A, Coen PG, Booy R, Levin M. The role of healthcare delivery in the outcome of meningococcal disease in children: case-control study of fatal and non-fatal cases. British Medical Journal. June 2005;330:1475. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/330/7506/1475  
2. Pollard AJ, Nadel S, Ninis N, Faust SN, Levin M. Emergency management of meningococcal disease: eight years on. Arch Dis Child. April 2007;92(4):283-6. http://adc.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/92/4/283

Page updated 20.12.07

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