Mother's persistence saves son

The parents of a 9-year-old meningitis patient say he is alive only because his mother went against a Buller Hospital doctor's advice.

Christchurch Hospital doctors later told Westport couple Tracey and Darren Arnesen that their son, Michael, might have died from meningitis if he had gone home and fallen asleep.

In response, the doctor concerned, Kevin Sullivan, said meningitis was always a consideration and he had treated Michael appropriately.

Mrs Arnesen said Michael vomited early on October 1.

"I put him on the couch and gave him Paracetamol. By 11am he had a rash. I thought, 'Oh my God, it's meningitis'," she said.

By the time Michael was seen at Buller Medical Service, about midday, he was showing other classic meningitis symptoms: aversion to bright light and a headache.

He was referred to Dr Sullivan, Buller Hospital's resident doctor. Dr Sullivan told Mrs Arnesen her son had a viral illness but it could not harm him, and treated him for nausea.

"He [Dr Sullivan] assured me it wasn't meningitis, it was a viral thing, and he can go home in 20 minutes. I took him home and I was back within 20 minutes."

Michael began having fits - another meningitis symptom - shortly after he arrived home about 1.30pm.

On their return to Buller Hospital, Mrs Arnesen's frustration increased as Michael kept having fits.

"He [Dr Sullivan] tried telling me it was a reaction to an injection he had given him for the nausea. But I kept saying, 'Look at the rash'."

Dr Sullivan gave Michael two doses of medicine to stop the fits but it did not work, Mrs Arnesen said.

The doctor then consulted a neurologist at Christchurch Hospital. While Dr Sullivan was away, Mrs Arnesen asked a nurse whether she thought Michael had meningitis.

She was told Michael had been given precautionary antibiotics "just in case". This was news to her, Mrs Arnesen said.

About 4pm, Dr Sullivan returned to say Christchurch Hospital and West Coast consulting paediatrician Neil McKenzie were diverting an air ambulance en route from Nelson to pick up Michael.

He finally arrived at Christchurch Hospital about 8pm.

Mrs Arnesen said she never accepted she was being "paranoid" about her son and had since been proved right.

"If I had just listened to him [Dr Sullivan] and taken Michael home and put him to bed, it could have been quite a different outcome."

On arrival in Christchurch, Michael was immediately treated for suspected meningitis.

"They weren't sure if it was meningitis at first, but they treated him for it - and all of us."

Meningitis was confirmed the day Michael was discharged from Christchurch Hospital on October 6.

The Arnesens were writing to the West Coast District Health Board to make doctors more aware of the disease.

Dr Sullivan, who is now working at Grey Base Hospital until his contract with the DHB finishes at the end of this month, said he believed he had treated Michael appropriately for the symptoms he displayed.

He stood by his clinical assessment of the situation.

"Antibiotics were given and a blood culture was taken while he was at Buller Hospital.

"In hindsight, I accept I may have been able to communicate with Michael's mother better. However, meningitis had always remained a consideration."

The health board said that regardless of whether the family wanted to complain formally, the incident should be investigated.

"Meningitis is a national priority and is taken very seriously by this DHB," said chief executive John Luhrs.

The Arnesens, who have four other young children, said next year's immunisation programme could not come quickly enough.

A dozen family members and friends in close contact with Michael received antibiotics as a precaution.

Michael is back at school, but still awaiting results of tests for permanent effects such as deafness.

Health protection officer Christopher Bergin, of West Coast Community and Public Health, said there had been two suspected meningitis cases on the Coast so far this year. Michael was the only confirmed case.

- NZPA