Suspected meningococcemia patient dies

DAGUPAN CITY -- A four-month-old baby boy died of suspected meningococcemia not long after he was brought to a private hospital here Saturday evening.

But City Health Officer Leonard Carbonnel said there is no cause for alarm as the City Health Office (CHO) has performed the protocols, such as identifying the persons whom the patient had close contacts with and had given them preventive antibiotics.

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They also had coordination with the barangay council where the patient's family resides and submitted report to the Department of Health-Ilocos Epidemiology Center.

Local health officials explained to the people the baby had close contact with why the need for them to have self-quarantine for nine days.

The baby was rushed to the hospital Saturday afternoon due to high fever. He was brought home after the doctor, who checked him up, told the parents to give him medicine for his fever.

Late in the evening, he was rushed back to the hospital due to persistent high fever. The boy also developed red rashes on his body.

He died about an hour after his confinement in the hospital.

“Our diagnosis would still be meningococcemia-suspect because the patient manifested the symptoms of meningococcemia,” Carbonnel said in an interview Monday.

They cannot, however, confirm this through blood culture because the baby was buried morning of Sunday.

Carbonnel said there should be no cause for alarm as the CHO has done all epidemiological response needed.

The last case of confirmed meningococcemia in the city was in 2005, the year there was an outbreak in Baguio City.

All the people who had close contact then with the patient from Barangay Calmay were given prophylaxis and no one from them had meningococcemia.

“Ito yong sinasabi natin na pumupunta tayo sa safe side by checking those with direct contact, and observe incubation period. There is no cause for alarm as the case fatality is less than 10 percent. Region 1 (Ilocos) averages eight to 10 victims/cases per year. This is not new in the Philippines as it is endemic here,” he explained.

Carbonnel said meningococcemia usually manifest during cold season. The victims are usually children five years old and below. The symptoms are fever, headache, stiff neck, rashes, vomiting.

“Avoid crowded places, boost your immune system, eat right, sleep right, take vitamins and check your lifestyle,” are the precautionary measure advised by Carbonnel.