Leaving Hospital
Leaving hospital can be a worrying time. A person is not always ready or able to go back to their old lifestyle. If there are serious after-effects rehabilitation will take longer. For some this means many months in hospital, which can cause problems for family life, education or employment. For others, although the stay in hospital may be short, adjusting to life at home can still be difficult.
People recovering from either viral or bacterial meningitis should pay attention to what their bodies are telling them and should be advised not to rush. Plenty of rest can help with the recovery process.
Emotional effects
The emotional impact on individuals and families can be huge, even when there is a good physical recovery.
Everyone will respond differently and emotional difficulties will vary depending on age. For example, young children can often experience nightmares, bed wetting, clinginess and temper tantrums. Teenagers can go through a period of depression and find it difficult to express their emotions. Children and adults may experience anxiety and depression, lack of self-esteem and confidence, and behavioural problems such as aggression and mood swings.
Patience and understanding is often the best way forward. Some people may need more support to get them through the bad times.
It's not unusual to feel isolated at this time and many people don't know who to turn to. Talking to someone who understands can be a great help and many people benefit from talking to our helpline staff. The helpline is staffed by specially trained nurses and there is someone ready to listen at any time of day or night. Call the helpline free on (UK) 0800 028 18 28 or
(Ireland) 1800 523 196.
Recovery & Young Children
Many children will quickly make a good recovery despite being very ill, but they may still behave differently, demand attention and have unexpected temper tantrums. Younger children can find it hard to explain how they feel.
Serious after-effects can lead to many changes because of frequent hospital visits, ongoing treatment and disruption to family life. Brothers and sisters, particularly younger children, will need extra attention and understanding because they can experience anxiety and feelings of isolation.
It is important that all the family receives the right care and support to meet their needs. If you need help, call our 24-hour freephone nurse-led helpline on (UK) 0800 028 18 28 or (Ireland) 1800 523 196. |
