November date for international conference on meningitis and septicaemia
10 August 2009
What: Two day international conference in November 2009 - Meningitis and Septicaemia in Children and Adults
When: 11 & 12 November 2009
Where: Royal Society of Medicine, London
Organiser: Meningitis Research Foundation
Meningitis Research Foundation's two day international conference on meningitis and septicaemia in children and adults will be held at the Royal Society of Medicine in November. Leading experts will present the latest advances in prevention of meningococcal, pneumococcal and Hib infections, and issues in clinical management of bacterial meningitis and sepsis.
The conference will bring together renowned scientists and clinicians from a range of specialities within both the paediatric and adult settings. These include infectious diseases, epidemiology, immunology, vaccinology, tropical medicine, microbiology, molecular medicine, emergency and critical care, and rehabilitation medicine.
Speakers include National Director of Immunisation Prof David Salisbury, Professor Andrew Pollard and Dr Paul Heath, with the keynote lecture presented by Prof Joe Carcillo of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on the current management of sepsis and insights into future therapies.
Conference fees start from as little as £90 per day with CPD applied for. A full programme and booking form can be found on
this website or by calling or emailing Conference Administrator Paul George on 01454 281811 or
paulg@meningitis.org
Media Contact: Harpinder Collacott 01454 281811 or 07711 057875
Notes to Editor:
- Meningitis Research Foundation currently funds 22 research projects. Since it was founded in 1989, the charity has awarded 122 research grants, leading to many advances in the prevention, detection and treatment of meningitis and septicaemia. The total value of the Foundation's investment in vital scientific research is over £13.5 million.
- Meningitis Research Foundation operates a Freefone 24 hour helpline - 080 8800 3344 - providing information on meningitis and septicaemia to the general public and health professionals.
Symptoms of meningitis:
Fever; vomiting; severe headache; rash (not present in all cases); stiff neck*; dislike of bright lights*; very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious; seizures (fits) may also be seen. (*Unusual in young children.)
Symptoms of septicaemia (blood poisoning form of the disease):
Fever; vomiting; limb/joint/muscle pain (sometimes stomach pain/diarrhoea); pale or mottled skin; cold hands and feet; shivering; breathing fast/breathless; rash (anywhere on the body); very sleepy/vacant/difficult to wake; confused/delirious.
Other symptoms in babies include: tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot); refusing to feed; being irritable when picked up with a high pitched or moaning cry; a stiff body with jerky movements or else floppy and lifeless.