Faces of Meningitis - Case Study

Yolanda's Story

My name is Abraham Moyo and this is the story of my daughter, Yolanda, who was a happy, healthy baby girlfor the first two years of her life. She talked and walked without any problems.

Yolanda started to show signs of illness in February of 2002 when she was 2 years old. She developed an extensive skin rash, so her mother and I took her to a general practitioner and a dermatologist. Each of the professionals diagnosed her with allergies. My daughter was prescribed cream to help with the rash, but it did not help at all.

By November of 2003, not only was my daughter not feeling better, but she also started to develop symptoms of high fever and a stiff neck. At this point, her mother and I took her to a pediatrician who performed a lumbar puncture. The spinal fluid from the lumbar puncture was tested as normal. Following this, she underwent a head CT scan, which the radiologist read as normal.

Yolanda continued to get worse and 14 days after the CT scan, she fell into a coma. It was devastating for her mother and myself to see a once happy, healthy girl lying so helplessly. She woke up two weeks later without intervention and at that time, she underwent another CT scan of her head. This scan showed severe brain inflammation and hemorrhage consistent with encephalitis. The radiologist stated that it was consistent with tuberculosis meningitis. Yolanda was then put on several medications, including an intravenous antibiotic and an anti-seizure medication.

Yolanda never recovered fully. She has been bed-ridden ever since the onset of symptoms. She is no longer able to walk or speak despite extensive occupational and physical therapy. She remains hemi-paralyzed on her left side and is unable to control her bowel. Yolanda’s mother and I took her to see a neurologist at the end of 2004 for a follow-up. A repeat head CT scan was conducted, but it did not show any improvement.

Yolanda is now 5 years old and continues to receive extensive occupational and physical therapy. She has shown some cognitive improvement in that she seems to respond to people and sounds around her. However, her coordination is still completely lacking.

I would like to ask the world for prayers so that better medications and vaccinations can be available in developing countries like mine. Doctors have continually stated that there is a 90% recovery chance for Yolanda with special diets and other forms of assistance. We ask for your prayers as it grossly pains us to see our once happy toddler suffer so much. The shortage of proper preventive and curative medications and support groups in developing countries such as Africa is a big challenge. God bless.