Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.tchdnow.org/
PROBABLE CASE OF BACTERIAL MENINGITIS IN TUSCARAWAS COUNTY
The Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified by the Tuscarawas County Coroner?s Office late Friday afternoon of a death resulting from a probable case of bacterial meningitis.
Due to the clinical presentation and preliminary autopsy results the probable cause of death is likely to be bacterial meningitis, however, culture confirmation is pending and will take at least 48 hours.
Bacterial Meningitis is a Class B reportable disease meaning it must be reported by the close of next business day to the local public health department where the patient resides.
Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis often occur abruptly and include fever, chills, headache, and stiff neck. The progression of the disease is usually rapid. Individual symptoms can vary widely from patient to patient and can be non-specific.
A vaccine to protect against certain agents is available but may have been ineffective in this case. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. Treatment reduces the risk of dying from meningitis to less than 15%.
At the current time the Tuscarawas County Health Department is making notifications and recommendations to any close contacts of the individual.
The general public should not be concerned at the current time as this appears to be an isolated case. Information will be distributed to local physicians and hospitals and stat cares reminding of the diagnostic criteria for this disease...
The Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified by the Tuscarawas County Coroner?s Office late Friday afternoon of a death resulting from a probable case of bacterial meningitis.
Due to the clinical presentation and preliminary autopsy results the probable cause of death is likely to be bacterial meningitis, however, culture confirmation is pending and will take at least 48 hours.
Bacterial Meningitis is a Class B reportable disease meaning it must be reported by the close of next business day to the local public health department where the patient resides.
Signs and symptoms of bacterial meningitis often occur abruptly and include fever, chills, headache, and stiff neck. The progression of the disease is usually rapid. Individual symptoms can vary widely from patient to patient and can be non-specific.
A vaccine to protect against certain agents is available but may have been ineffective in this case. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. Treatment reduces the risk of dying from meningitis to less than 15%.
At the current time the Tuscarawas County Health Department is making notifications and recommendations to any close contacts of the individual.
The general public should not be concerned at the current time as this appears to be an isolated case. Information will be distributed to local physicians and hospitals and stat cares reminding of the diagnostic criteria for this disease...