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One Child Too Many
Preventing Bacterial Meningitis
By Kelly Burgess
Every child that dies from meningitis is one child too many. That's the message a group of parents – most of whom have lost children to bacterial meningitis – is trying to get out to parents of children everywhere. They have had some successes, but for the most part it's an uphill battle because public health policy doesn't view meningitis as enough of a statistical risk to devote public health funds to the type of advertising push necessary to inform doctors and parents. Not to mention the fact that most insurance companies don't cover the vaccine.
But, as Sue Koenig, of Coatesville, Penn., points out, for the cost of a pair of sneakers, a parent can protect their child from losing their life or being seriously disabled for life. She knows that any informed parent is willing to bear that small cost to protect their child.
If parents could place an order for the perfect child, they would probably end up with one like Emily Koenig. Bright, bubbly and highly motivated, she never had to be pushed to do her best. "We were very fortunate as parents because she really wanted to do well," says Koenig. "She was just a wonderful child."
On December 7, 2002, Emily accompanied her father, Al Koenig, to a local nursery to buy plants for a school project. While she was there, a woman sneezed on her at close range. Giggling, but kind of grossed out as well, Emily told her father about it, adding that the woman didn't seem to speak English.
Four days later, Emily died in the emergency room of their local hospital. She had contracted the bacterial infection Meningococcal meningitis, possibly from the woman who had sneezed on her. While most people can fight off this bacteria quite easily, for some, particularly those with immature immune systems or immune systems that have been weakened by a cold, illness or lifestyle issues such as smoking, it can sometimes develop into a deadly illness.
