The Toddle Waddle 2023: Date, History, Facts about Meningitis

Every year on March 2, the Toddle Waddle is observed to raise awareness and encourage nurseries across the globe to walk and raise funds for meningitis. Can you believe that one of the first treatments for meningitis was derived from horses? Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord for protection. It is distinguished by headache, neck stiffness, fever, an inability to tolerate light or loud noises, vomiting, and confusion. Meningitis primarily affects infants younger than a year and adolescents between the ages of 16 and 23. Through toddler walks, The Toddle Waddle aims to raise funds for meningitis research.

The background of The Toddle Waddle

Hippocrates, a Greek physician who lived between 460 and 370 B.C., could have made the first recorded observation of meningitis, according to some medical scholars. Avicenna and other pre-Renaissance physicians were also knowledgeable about meningitis.

In 1768, a posthumous report by Sir Robert Whytt described tuberculous meningitis for the first time. However, it was not until the following century that the pathogen ‘Tubercle bacilli’ was associated with tuberculosis. In the 1800s, French and English physicians combined the words’meninges’ and ‘itis’ to coin the term’meningitis.’

In 1805, Geneva experienced the first notable meningitis epidemic, which was followed by similar outbreaks in Europe and the United States. In 1840, Africa experienced its first meningitis epidemic. As there was no treatment for meningitis, up to 90 percent of the affected population perished during outbreaks.

In 1906, anti-meningococcal serum therapy was introduced as a treatment for meningitis. The majority of the antibodies in this serum were derived from horse blood. This was eventually replaced by meningitis patients and those recovering from the disease. Sara Branham introduced sulphonamides as a treatment for meningitis in 1930, which proved to be more effective against meningococcal bacteria than antiserum.

In 1944, scientists introduced penicillin as a treatment for meningitis. Late in the 20th century, Haemophilus vaccines were made available to the general public, and they significantly reduced the incidence of meningitis caused by the same-named pathogen.

Meningitis Trust was founded in 1986 in the United Kingdom to combat meningitis. The charity merged with Meningitis U.K. to form Meningitis Now in 2013.

List of Important Days in March 2023

5 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MENINGITIS

Meningitis primarily affects infants younger than one year, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 16 and 23.

Meningitis is caused by numerous pathogens, including common ones such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, viruses, and fungi.

Although meningitis can be contracted at any time of the year, certain types of meningitis are more prevalent during certain times of the year.

Regardless of the causative pathogen, meningitis symptoms are always identical.

Those who reside in communal areas, such as refugee or military camps, student areas, or mass gatherings, are more likely to contract meningitis.

THE TODDLE WADDLE DATES