A 5-year-old San Jose girl died Christmas morning from bacterial
meningitis, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health
Department.
A 5-year-old San Jose girl died Christmas morning from bacterial meningitis, according to the Santa Clara County Public Health Department.
The child was hospitalized two days earlier and was undergoing treatment for the infectious disease but died after being transferred to Lucile Salter Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.
The county health department is currently investigating this and two other cases of bacterial meningitis.
A 10-year-old boy, who has fully recovered, and the boy’s 32-year-old mother, still hospitalized and in good condition, were the other cases.
Neither their hometown nor the hospital treating the woman would be released, according to Joy Alexiou, spokeswoman for the Public Health Department.
All three cases were reported last week though department officials said they do not suspect a link between the child who died and the mother and son.
County health officials followed up with all adults and children in close contact to these cases, recommending antibiotics to everyone who may have come in contact with the oral secretions of any of the three cases. Antibiotics were distributed by the Health Department and through individual health providers.
Besides the three cases under investigation, Santa Clara County previously reported two cases of bacterial meningitis in 2003. During 2002, nine cases of bacterial meningitis were reported to the state and no deaths were attributed to the disease.
Meningitis, which is an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, is not easily transmitted. It is spread by fairly intimate contact such as kissing or sharing utensils and water bottles. High fever, headache and stiff neck are the most common symptoms in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop quickly over several hours, or can take one to two days.
Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking at bright lights, confusion, sleepiness or a purplish rash. In newborns and small infants, the common symptoms may be absent or difficult to detect. The infant may appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting or be feeding poorly.
Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If someone has symptoms they should see a doctor immediately. Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important to start the treatment early in the course of the disease.
Details on meningitis: www.cdc.gov or www.dhs.ca.gov
