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Bakersfield family has personal warning about dangers of meningitis
A Bakersfield family has a very personal warning about the dangers of bacterial meningitis. The Kern County Public Health Department announced a four-fold increase in local cases. The Moore family can show you the dangers.
Four-year-old Madison Moore sits in the family living room, a graphic example of how serious meningitis can be. At the age of five-months she lost both legs to the infection.
"It was hard, but look at the alternative," mother Sarah Moore told Eyewitness News Thursday. In November 2003, Madison was rushed to the hospital -- and the family made the painful decision to allow both legs to be amputated above the knee.
Madison was a perky, blond two days before she got sick. It was November 30th, and the family was at the coast for the Thanksgiving holiday. At 8:00 a.m. Madison was running a slight fever -- by 10:00 p.m. she was on total life support.
Sarah Moore says it was bacterial meningitis that went into Madison's blood stream leading to septic shock. The damage hit her legs, feet, hands and face.
Four years later, Madison can scoot around -- and she's set to be fitted for her fourth set of artificial legs on Monday. Her hands are damaged, there's scarring on her arm, and she's had plastic surgery to repair damage to one nostril.
"It was rare back then," says the mother. "I'm watching the reports, I'm seeing this -- I saw it a month and a half ago." Sarah Moore says the 21 recent cases of meningitis in Kern County led her to warn people about its dangers.
Why are there more cases of meningitis in Kern County now? "I don't think we really know," Kaiser Permanent Dr. Jason Bill son told Eyewitness News. He says that's why it's so important to prevent getting the infection.
Health officials recommend good and thorough hand-washing to prevent infection. They also warn against sharing personal items. The bacteria is spread by very close contact, usually through saliva.
Eyewitness News asked the State Health Department about cases of meningitis in other parts of California. Spokesman Ken August says they are not seeing a spike of cases elsewhere.
August says 10-percent of the population may have the bacteria that causes meningitis, but most of the time it does not lead to disease. They have no idea why the spike is being seen in Kern County. "There are a lot of unknowns about this infection," says August.
The health official also says the strain now being seen in Kern County is called "sub-group B." August adds that there's no vaccine for this strain.
Getting kids vaccinated is a big issue for Sarah Moore. There are five vaccines that can help prevent meningitis. But, they're not usually given to babies.
"The vaccine is OK for ages between two and 55," says Kaiser's Dr. Jason Bill son, "But it just hasn't become recommended -- as of yet -- for kids less than eleven years old."
With the meningitis infection, the key is acting fast. The symptoms can look like flu -- fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting and a rash. Doctors say, if those symptoms suddenly get much worse -- get medical care immediately.
When Madison got sick, she was air-lifted to Children's Hospital in Madera and she was in intensive care for weeks. But, the infection stopped spreading when they immediately started the anti-biotics.
"Once the anti-biotic was administered it was done," says Sarah Moore. "All the damage that happened was within those hours. We don't know how she picked it up. We can't pin-point it."
That haunts the mother -- as well as the troubling number of meningitis cases being seen now in Kern County. "We need to really find out," says Moore. "Its around here -- what can we do about it?"
Story Created: Apr 3, 2008 at 8:12 PM CDT
Story Updated: Apr 3, 2008 at 9:19 PM CDT
Bakersfield family has personal warning about dangers of meningitis
A Bakersfield family has a very personal warning about the dangers of bacterial meningitis. The Kern County Public Health Department announced a four-fold increase in local cases. The Moore family can show you the dangers.
Four-year-old Madison Moore sits in the family living room, a graphic example of how serious meningitis can be. At the age of five-months she lost both legs to the infection.
"It was hard, but look at the alternative," mother Sarah Moore told Eyewitness News Thursday. In November 2003, Madison was rushed to the hospital -- and the family made the painful decision to allow both legs to be amputated above the knee.
Madison was a perky, blond two days before she got sick. It was November 30th, and the family was at the coast for the Thanksgiving holiday. At 8:00 a.m. Madison was running a slight fever -- by 10:00 p.m. she was on total life support.
Sarah Moore says it was bacterial meningitis that went into Madison's blood stream leading to septic shock. The damage hit her legs, feet, hands and face.
Four years later, Madison can scoot around -- and she's set to be fitted for her fourth set of artificial legs on Monday. Her hands are damaged, there's scarring on her arm, and she's had plastic surgery to repair damage to one nostril.
"It was rare back then," says the mother. "I'm watching the reports, I'm seeing this -- I saw it a month and a half ago." Sarah Moore says the 21 recent cases of meningitis in Kern County led her to warn people about its dangers.
Why are there more cases of meningitis in Kern County now? "I don't think we really know," Kaiser Permanent Dr. Jason Bill son told Eyewitness News. He says that's why it's so important to prevent getting the infection.
Health officials recommend good and thorough hand-washing to prevent infection. They also warn against sharing personal items. The bacteria is spread by very close contact, usually through saliva.
Eyewitness News asked the State Health Department about cases of meningitis in other parts of California. Spokesman Ken August says they are not seeing a spike of cases elsewhere.
August says 10-percent of the population may have the bacteria that causes meningitis, but most of the time it does not lead to disease. They have no idea why the spike is being seen in Kern County. "There are a lot of unknowns about this infection," says August.
The health official also says the strain now being seen in Kern County is called "sub-group B." August adds that there's no vaccine for this strain.
Getting kids vaccinated is a big issue for Sarah Moore. There are five vaccines that can help prevent meningitis. But, they're not usually given to babies.
"The vaccine is OK for ages between two and 55," says Kaiser's Dr. Jason Bill son, "But it just hasn't become recommended -- as of yet -- for kids less than eleven years old."
With the meningitis infection, the key is acting fast. The symptoms can look like flu -- fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting and a rash. Doctors say, if those symptoms suddenly get much worse -- get medical care immediately.
When Madison got sick, she was air-lifted to Children's Hospital in Madera and she was in intensive care for weeks. But, the infection stopped spreading when they immediately started the anti-biotics.
"Once the anti-biotic was administered it was done," says Sarah Moore. "All the damage that happened was within those hours. We don't know how she picked it up. We can't pin-point it."
That haunts the mother -- as well as the troubling number of meningitis cases being seen now in Kern County. "We need to really find out," says Moore. "Its around here -- what can we do about it?"
Story Created: Apr 3, 2008 at 8:12 PM CDT
Story Updated: Apr 3, 2008 at 9:19 PM CDT
