title: Meningitis: is a major cause of disability amongst Papua New Guinea children?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article is intended to focus on the need for the use of rehabilitation services, for children with meningitis in Papua New Guinea, which is one of largest developing country in The Pacific with diverse culture and landscape. Meningitis is the fifth leading disease that results in disability in the country. The first line of treatment is usually antibiotics, administration of vaccination is also recommended. Currently community based rehabilitation workers and Physiotherapist offer the rehabilitation services. There is a need for the other rehabilitation professionals and appropriate education to the CBR workers, caregivers for providing effective Rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles related to meningitis were recruited through various electronic database such as Ovid SP, MEDLINE, CINHAL, Google Scholar and HINARI and EBSCOhost for full text. The search includes journal articles, editorials, research reports, systematic reviews and books.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The neurological sequelae resulting from meningitis are increasing. There is a need for Hib vaccination to reduce the rate of mortality. Physiotherapists are new professionals that emerged since 2006 and are assisting in reducing the motor and neurological disability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A multidisciplinary approach is required to manage the child with meningitis. Adequate knowledge, resources and assistance about the condition among the health professionals, carers and teachers would enable the children to achieve the quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea. pkarthi@dwu.ac.pg
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karthikeyan
authors.forename: Karthikeyan P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012046:Rehabilitation; D012307:Risk Factors