Hopefully this is a word of encouragement to those of you who know Pete (I don't).

However, I have had a lot of experience with meningitis and from your time frames and where he is now - my guess is that he has Viral Meningitis (VM).

You are correct to be concerned but also to be optimistic - Viral meningitis takes about a week or so to "work up" to really affecting the victim and about 3 - 5 weeks to resolve: BUT - the recovery is usually complete and has no lingering side effects (except that he's gonna be REAL nervous about headaches for a few yers).

It's bacterial meningitis (BM) which is the worst of the two - I have transported several VM patients and took care of them as a paramedic and ALL survived with no loss of faculty.

However; I transported only one BM and he came through it alive, but with either his hearing or eyesight (this WAS 20+years ago so forgive my recall deficiencies) was slightly impaired after.

The only other contact I had with BM was when a student of mine at a boarding school 'collapsed' with a headache - I was lulled into a false sense of security by the principal who said she was the larest in a series of "flu" sufferers. I had recently also had the First Aid responsibilty for the school taken away and given to an ex-student who was now working there and had worked fro 12 months as a nurses aid (they were VERY inbred) who moaned and whined that she wanted it and since she lived 'on campus' SHE should have it - she was given it over my protestations.

Long story short - the student (who happened to be my absolute all-time favourite) died the next morning from BM and when I got the call that she couldn't be roused and rushed to the school - found the 'new' First-Aid controller standing at the child's bedside wringing her hands and asking what to do. Any wonders as to why I quit after coming out of quarantine?

Your friend SHOULD be safe and SHOULD turn out well especially as he is getting hospitl care. exhaustion from pain and dehydration are the commonest vectors for killing any VM patient and the fact that he is still in hospital fighting means he is most likely PAST the danger point.

Good luck with him and I think I'm safe offering all the best wishes of all of Mudcat and all our prayers (for those of us that pray) to his speedy and full recovery.

Slainte

Muttley