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Friday, December 02, 2005
Health dep't: Kid likely ill with blood disease
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
THE regional office of the Department of Health (DOH) disclosed there is an 80 percent possibility that the four-year-old boy confined at the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) is suffering from the dreaded meningococemia.
The agency is also looking for the other person suspected to be suffering from the same bacteria as disclosed by Mayor Vicente Emano.
It is monitoring and asking hospitals to submit reports if any case has been submitted to them.
Misamis Oriental Provincial Health Officer Sonny Moreno said, however, that they are ready to handle any case of meningococemia in the province.
Regional information officer Emiliano Galban Jr. said their surveillance officer John Emata has already submitted his report on the four-year-old boy suspected to be suffering from meningococemia.
"Ang four-year-old kay 80 percent suspected to be with meningo. The boy has fever and even skin rashes," he told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Thursday.
Earlier, NMMC chief hospital Evelyn Pepito-Clarete confirmed that a four-year- old boy was admitted to their hospital last Monday night.
The boy was first brought to the JR Borja Memorial City Hospital and when diagnosed to have the symptoms of suffering from meningococemia even including the skin rashes.
But Galban clarified they are still waiting for the final results on the laboratory tests and blood culture.
He said though NMMC is now capable of doing blood test and blood culture as what the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila can do. Still, it is best to get a second opinion.
"NMMC is already capable to diagnose whether a patient is suffering from meningococemia. But this would still take some time as padak-on paman ang kagaw aron makita gyud kung unsa kana," he said.
Galban said once the results are turned in there would be a "contact tracing" that would be done which would include the four-year-old boy's immediate family and friends.
"Kay anti-biotics gud kana ang among ihatag pud sa ilaha siguro-on sa nato...but until wala pa ang results gi-advise na sila nga i-build up gyud ang ilang resistensya," he said.
Galvan said they have not received any reports regarding another person suspected to be suffering from this same bacteria.
He said such person should be immediately referred to the NMMC for proper isolation and treatment with medical personnel using PPE or Personal Protection Equipment.
"We are now monitoring and asking hospitals to submit reports," he said.
Moreno for his part said the provincial government is ready to handle any case of meningococemia.
He said this as he pointed out that they have already the experience with a resident from El Salvador, Misamis Oriental who died because of this bacteria.
"Ready naman kita niini kay we have the taskforce for this," he said.
(December 2, 2005 issue)
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