Doctors ‘baffled’ as teen battles meningitis 3rd time

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – For the third time in a little more than two years, Elianna Neumann is battling viral meningitis.

The mother of the 13-year-old told KOIN 6 News doctors are baffled over why the teen keeps getting so sick.

Elianna was also hospitalized in 2013 and 2014 for the same medical issue. Miranda Neumann told KOIN 6 News her daughter’s headaches began getting severe last weekend.

On Monday, she woke up with a stiff neck. Miranda rushed her daughter from their home in Woodland to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

“She’s suffering immensely and it’s not just physically either. Neurologically there’s a lot going on there,” Miranda said. “She has viral meningitis withencephalitis.”

The doctors don’t know why Elianna keeps getting sick, she said.

“We’ve been in immunologists at Seattle Childrens, we’ve done study after study. She has all sorts of things here at Doernbecher’s they’ve put her through and they haven’t found an answer.”

Most people with viral meningitis get better on their own within a week or so. But some types can be very serious. Doctors said it’s important to know the signs and get help if you see the symptoms.

Her mother said Elianna wants to be a nurse when she grows up. But right now they want something else.

“I want answers. I know it sounds so far-fetched because if there were answers we’d have answers, but there’s got to be something out there, there’s got to be someone out there that knows something,” Miranda said. “We shouldn’t have to look over our shoulder every time she gets a headache.”