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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/3160484/Meningitis-kills-Urenui-schoolgirl
Meningitis kills Urenui schoolgirl
By ESTHER TAUNTON - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 15/12/2009
Students at Waitara High School have been offered counselling after the sudden death of one of their classmates.
A Taranaki District Health Board spokeswoman on Sunday confirmed a Taranaki patient had died from meningococcal disease.
Test results confirming the strain would not be available for two to three weeks.
The Taranaki Daily News understands the victim was a 17-year-old girl from Urenui who attended Waitara High School.
Principal Jenny Gellen yesterday said classes had ended for the year but the school was open and a counsellor was available to speak to students.
Staff were not yet making plans to discuss the symptoms of meningococcal disease or how to prevent it with students, Ms Gellen said. "We don't want to start telling the kids what they should and shouldn't be doing until we know all the details," she said.
Taranaki DHB medical officer of health Dr Greg Simmons said people needed to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.
Symptoms may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, sleepiness, a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights, joint and muscle pains and a rash.
"The infection is caused by a bacterial germ that is carried in the throat," Dr Simmons said.
Often carriers showed no symptoms but in a small proportion the germ invaded the blood stream and caused blood poisoning or infection of the lining of the brain (meningitis), he said.
"In its early stages meningococcal disease may appear to be a mild flu-like illness but it can progress quickly," Dr Simmons said.
Although cases had decreased since a national immunisation campaign against one strain of meningococcal B, two to four cases of meningococcal disease were confirmed each year in Taranaki and the risk of illness was still there, Dr Simmons said.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Babies and children: May be floppy or harder to wake, crying and unsettled, refuse drinks/feeds.
Adults: May have a headache, be confused or unconscious, have a sore or stiff neck, have joint pain or aching muscles.
Anyone: May have a fever, be sleepy, dislike bright lights, vomit or have a red rash or spots.
Meningitis kills Urenui schoolgirl
By ESTHER TAUNTON - Taranaki Daily News
Last updated 05:00 15/12/2009
Students at Waitara High School have been offered counselling after the sudden death of one of their classmates.
A Taranaki District Health Board spokeswoman on Sunday confirmed a Taranaki patient had died from meningococcal disease.
Test results confirming the strain would not be available for two to three weeks.
The Taranaki Daily News understands the victim was a 17-year-old girl from Urenui who attended Waitara High School.
Principal Jenny Gellen yesterday said classes had ended for the year but the school was open and a counsellor was available to speak to students.
Staff were not yet making plans to discuss the symptoms of meningococcal disease or how to prevent it with students, Ms Gellen said. "We don't want to start telling the kids what they should and shouldn't be doing until we know all the details," she said.
Taranaki DHB medical officer of health Dr Greg Simmons said people needed to be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.
Symptoms may include a high fever, headache, vomiting, sleepiness, a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights, joint and muscle pains and a rash.
"The infection is caused by a bacterial germ that is carried in the throat," Dr Simmons said.
Often carriers showed no symptoms but in a small proportion the germ invaded the blood stream and caused blood poisoning or infection of the lining of the brain (meningitis), he said.
"In its early stages meningococcal disease may appear to be a mild flu-like illness but it can progress quickly," Dr Simmons said.
Although cases had decreased since a national immunisation campaign against one strain of meningococcal B, two to four cases of meningococcal disease were confirmed each year in Taranaki and the risk of illness was still there, Dr Simmons said.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Babies and children: May be floppy or harder to wake, crying and unsettled, refuse drinks/feeds.
Adults: May have a headache, be confused or unconscious, have a sore or stiff neck, have joint pain or aching muscles.
Anyone: May have a fever, be sleepy, dislike bright lights, vomit or have a red rash or spots.