Thursday, November 06, 2008
Magpet SK officer dies of meningo
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- A 17-year-old Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councilor in a village in Magpet, North Cotabato died of meningococcemia, his relatives told media.
Christopher Jay Sagucom, SK councilor of Barangay Basak, a hinterland village in Magpet, North Cotabato, expired around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, while he was being ferried from his place to a hospital here.
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His mother Gina, a public school teacher in Magpet, was shocked upon learning that Christopher's death was mostly because of meningococcemia.
Gina at first refused to believe the diagnosis.
"How can that be? He only has slight fever in the morning and complained of some muscle pains, then later in the afternoon, he died," she said.
But hospital workers told media here that they found intravascular coagulation or blood clots all over Christopher's body, especially on his legs and chest, one of the symptoms of a fulminant or severe case of meningococcemia.
The patient, they added, experienced stiff neck, fever, and has rashes, which appear like bruises on his legs.
Ellen Laos, Magpet municipal health officer, said that before Christopher was transferred to a hospital in Kidapawan City, they found out his blood pressure has already dropped.
"He has rashes all over. I was afraid his situation will get worse if he won't be transferred to the nearest hospital," Laos said.
After learning that meningococcemia has caused Christopher's death, Laos ordered that patient's immediate relatives who had direct contact with him be given preventive treatment.
Health workers who had close contact with the patient, according to Laos, were also ordered to undergo medication.
One of the prophylaxes that Dr. Ramon Rabago of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has recommended is Rifampicin, an antibiotic most frequently used to prevent certain types of meningitis, including meningococcal meningitis.
Meningococcemia, according to Rabago, is an acute disease caused by bacteria Neisseria meningitidis or meningococcus that infects humans.
The infection, according to studies, may be asymptomatic or without symptoms of disease, and maybe restricted to the nasopharynx or the nasal part of the pharynx that lies behind the nose and above the level of the soft palate.
The incubation period of the bacteria lasts for 2-10 days with an average of three to four days, studies added.
The infection, according to the Department of Health (DOH), is spread by direct contact with discharges from the nose and throat which contain the bacteria. The bacteria spread from an infected carrier to another person through close, direct physical contact and through coughing, sneezing, and kissing.
It can also spread through saliva (spit) when sharing items such as food or drinks, cups, utensils and drinking straws, the DOH said. (MCM)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (November 6, 2008 issue)
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