• Deborah Judge, Simon Nadel, Stephanie Vergnaud, and M Elena Garralda.
• Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Imperial College School of Medicine, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, Institution: St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
• Intensive Care Med. 2002 May 1;28(5):648-50.

ObjectiveTo describe the psychiatric status of child survivors of meningococcal disease and their mothers.Design And SettingHome interviews with 3-12 month follow-up.PATIENTS. 29 children aged 2-15 years admitted to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) with meningococcal disease.Measurements And ResultsQuestionnaires to assess psychiatric risk in children and parents. We found an overall risk for child psychiatric disorder in 20%. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were present in 62% of children, and 10% had the features of a stress disorder. In 40% of mothers there was an increased risk for psychiatric disorder, 48% experienced clinically significant PTSD symptoms, and 29% were seeking psychological help. Maternal stress symptoms were significantly associated with severity of their child's illness.ConclusionsA significant proportion of children surviving meningococcal disease and their parents are likely to suffer psychological stress symptoms to a degree that warrants attention.

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