SEVERE headaches, vomiting and neckaches are symptoms of a strain of meningococcal meningitis, which recently claimed the life of a seven-year-old Amanzimtoti boy.
Prevalence of the very infectious strain locally has since seen many children along with teachers, doctors and nurses placed on antibiotics.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis can occur when fluid surrounding the meninges becomes infected. The most common causes are viral and bacterial infections.
Paediatricians who dealt with the Amanzimtoti boy’s case explained that while the illness is relatively easy to treat in early stages, the child was unconscious at the time of his arrival at hospital.
The required medication was given and procedures followed but the illness had progressed too far.
Netcare 911 Kingsway Hospital was deeply saddened by the child’s death as a result of bacterial meningococcal meningitis.
“The attending doctors, management and staff are deeply saddened by the death of the child. Our thoughts are with the child’s parents and family at this traumatic time,” said general manager of Netcare Kingsway Hospital, Anna Demetriou.
According to Demetriou, the hospital has had no other reported cases of the bacterial form of meningitis, which can be dangerous and pose a significant risk to the health of patients.
“Strict protocols aligned with international guidelines are followed and are strictly adhered to in such cases,” said Demetriou.
She commended doctors and staff at the hospital and the Department of Health for their swift handling of the case, and thanked them for acting in the patient’s best interests while safeguarding the interests of other patients and hospital staff.
Demetriou explained that meningococcal disease is a communicable or infectious disease that is seasonal and flares up from time to time.
“The hospital manages any patient with such a disease in close consultation with the Department of Health and the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD),” she said.
“As part of the set protocols in treating diseases of this nature, anyone who has been in contact with such a patient, including all medical staff involved in the patient’s care, are counselled, given prophylactics and carefully monitored to contain any possible cross-infection.”
Following the child’s death many pre-, primary, high and home schools sent out warnings to parents, asking them to monitor the health of their children, noting the symptoms to watch out for.
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