Sir, - I can confirm Mrs Donnelly's warning (August 4th) that meningitis strikes without warning and is not confined to the young. I was 52 in 1990 when, without warning, I contracted bacterial meningitis while directing a production of Agnes of God. On Sunday March 25th, I was perfectly well and wrote a programme note for the show. By the afternoon of Wednesday 28th, I was incoherent, even by my standards. I thought it was exhaustion, as the play was going into its production week and I was commuting daily between Dublin and Gorey. I intended to drive home but fell asleep in my car in what used to be an open car park in front of the theatre. Thanks to the vigilance of my partner, Caroline Richardson, and my colleagues at Andrews Lane, I ended up in the Meath Hospital instead. Thanks to the care and expertise of the hospital staff I am alive to write this.
I spent a few days in intensive care and almost died on April 1st but then made a rapid recovery, persuading the hospital to discharge me on Monday, April 10th, a total residence of only 13 days.
I had few of the classic symptoms and those I had I put down to stress and overwork. I only realised there was something wrong when I found difficulty in speaking coherently. I put my speedy recovery down to my general fitness and my reluctance to take anti-biotics. I think because of reaction to the medication it took me some months to recover my usual energy level, but I have suffered no adverse effect since, although those who have seen me act or attended my productions may disagree. - Yours, etc.,
Brian De Salvo,
Gorey, Co Wicklow