Commonground
Senior Moderator
3:07pm Thursday 29th October 2009
Two children have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease in Marlborough prompting health trusts to write to all schools and GPs in the town.
A third child is being tested for the disease and two of the three children affected remain in hospital undergoing treatment.
People who have been in the closest contact with the three children have been given antibiotics as a precaution.
NHS Wiltshire and the Health Protection Agency have sent out letters following the outbreak urging peopel to watch out for signs of the disease.
Maggie Rae, director of public health for Wiltshire, said: ?We are working hard to investigate a cluster of cases of meningococcal disease in the Marlborough area.
?Immediate action has been taken and close contacts of those concerned have been given antibiotics to help prevent the further spread of infection. ?I?m glad to say the affected children are recovering well, and one has been discharged from hospital.
?We?re working closely with the families involved, and we understand that whilst this might be concerning news, we?d like to reassure people that there is no need for alarm.?
The health trusts are urging the public and health professionals to be on alert for signs of the symptoms of both meningitis and septicaemia. The HPA is working with the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) to ensure all Marlborough schools have meningitis leaflets to give to parents after half term, and NHS Wiltshire is working closely with GPs in the area.
NHS Wiltshire said most children will have received vaccination against the Group C strain of meningococcal infection, but as yet there is no vaccine available for the more common Group B strain.
Early recognition of meningitis and septicaemia can greatly improve the outcome of the disease.
Toyin Ejidokun, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at the Health Protection Agency said: ?People are at an increased risk of meningitis and septicaemia during the winter because there is much more cold and flu around, which in itself makes us much more susceptible to meningitis.
?The reason we need people to be vigilant to the symptoms is because they are similar to other more common conditions, such as flu. ?Because of the increase in cases of swine flu, it is extremely important to keep meningitis in mind when someone is displaying flu-like symptoms. ?It is important to seek medical attention as a matter of urgency if you suspect the disease?.
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can affect anyone at any age. Long term effects can include brain damage, deafness and, where septicaemia has occurred, the loss of limbs.
In the most serious cases the disease can kill.
Symptoms of meningitis can include:
*Vomiting
*High temperature and fever
*Violent or severe headache
*Neck stiffness (unable to touch the chin to the chest)
*Drowsiness and lethargy
*Fits
*Joint pains
*A sensitivity to bright light
*A rash of red-purple spots or bruises
In babies, the symptoms can include:
*Fever which can be accompanied by the hands and feet feeling cold
*Refusing feeds or vomiting
*High pitched moaning cry or whimpering
*Dislike of being handled and fretful
*Neck retraction with arching of back
*Blank and staring expression
*Child is difficult to wake or lethargic
*Pale blotchy complexion
Further advice on meningitis and an information leaflet can be obtained from the Meningitis Research Foundation on 0800 028 18 28 at http://www.meningitis.org/ or the Meningitis Trust 0845 6000 800 or at http://www.meningitis-trust.org/
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/4710470.Two_children_confirmed_with_meningitis_in_Marlborough/
Two children have been diagnosed with meningococcal disease in Marlborough prompting health trusts to write to all schools and GPs in the town.
A third child is being tested for the disease and two of the three children affected remain in hospital undergoing treatment.
People who have been in the closest contact with the three children have been given antibiotics as a precaution.
NHS Wiltshire and the Health Protection Agency have sent out letters following the outbreak urging peopel to watch out for signs of the disease.
Maggie Rae, director of public health for Wiltshire, said: ?We are working hard to investigate a cluster of cases of meningococcal disease in the Marlborough area.
?Immediate action has been taken and close contacts of those concerned have been given antibiotics to help prevent the further spread of infection. ?I?m glad to say the affected children are recovering well, and one has been discharged from hospital.
?We?re working closely with the families involved, and we understand that whilst this might be concerning news, we?d like to reassure people that there is no need for alarm.?
The health trusts are urging the public and health professionals to be on alert for signs of the symptoms of both meningitis and septicaemia. The HPA is working with the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) to ensure all Marlborough schools have meningitis leaflets to give to parents after half term, and NHS Wiltshire is working closely with GPs in the area.
NHS Wiltshire said most children will have received vaccination against the Group C strain of meningococcal infection, but as yet there is no vaccine available for the more common Group B strain.
Early recognition of meningitis and septicaemia can greatly improve the outcome of the disease.
Toyin Ejidokun, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at the Health Protection Agency said: ?People are at an increased risk of meningitis and septicaemia during the winter because there is much more cold and flu around, which in itself makes us much more susceptible to meningitis.
?The reason we need people to be vigilant to the symptoms is because they are similar to other more common conditions, such as flu. ?Because of the increase in cases of swine flu, it is extremely important to keep meningitis in mind when someone is displaying flu-like symptoms. ?It is important to seek medical attention as a matter of urgency if you suspect the disease?.
Meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can affect anyone at any age. Long term effects can include brain damage, deafness and, where septicaemia has occurred, the loss of limbs.
In the most serious cases the disease can kill.
Symptoms of meningitis can include:
*Vomiting
*High temperature and fever
*Violent or severe headache
*Neck stiffness (unable to touch the chin to the chest)
*Drowsiness and lethargy
*Fits
*Joint pains
*A sensitivity to bright light
*A rash of red-purple spots or bruises
In babies, the symptoms can include:
*Fever which can be accompanied by the hands and feet feeling cold
*Refusing feeds or vomiting
*High pitched moaning cry or whimpering
*Dislike of being handled and fretful
*Neck retraction with arching of back
*Blank and staring expression
*Child is difficult to wake or lethargic
*Pale blotchy complexion
Further advice on meningitis and an information leaflet can be obtained from the Meningitis Research Foundation on 0800 028 18 28 at http://www.meningitis.org/ or the Meningitis Trust 0845 6000 800 or at http://www.meningitis-trust.org/
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/4710470.Two_children_confirmed_with_meningitis_in_Marlborough/