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Saturday, November 20, 2004
Bacterial disease hits Baguio; 4 dead in 2 days
By Rimaliza Opiņa and Ernie N. Olson Jr.
BAGUIO CITY -- Local health experts are to declare an outbreak in the city following the death of four of eight patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of Meningococcemia in just a matter of 48 hours.
Officially, doctors said there is no epidemic or outbreak yet of the disease in Baguio and outlying towns, even as an 11-year-old was reported to have died Friday morning at the St. Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart in addition to the four confirmed deaths.
Meningococcemia is a communicable disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.
The bacteria frequently lives in the upper respiratory tract of an individual with causing harm to that person until something triggers its aggressive behavior resulting in sporadic cases of meningococcemia and meningococcal meningitis.
Dr. Antonio Bautista, medical specialist of the Department of Health-CAR, said eight persons admitted in hospitals starting Wednesday all showed symptoms of meningococcemia, but stressed he could not yet conclude the cause of deaths of four of the patients pending the absence of a laboratory confirmation.
Symptoms of the meningococcemia include headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, stiff neck, neck and back pains, appearance of rashes or small red and purple spots (in 50 to 75 percent of cases), vomiting, seizures, nerve palsies, and gait disturbance.
Mode of transmission is through droplets coming from the mouth and nose while incubation period ranges from two to 10 days.
Bautista said they are seriously thinking of declaring an outbreak should one of the four suspected to have the disease dies before the 21st of this month.
The other four who died were described to be a 41-year-old male, a 30-year-old female, a 33-year-old male, and a 60-year-old female.
Prior to the successive deaths, a health department report showed that beginning October 3 up to November 19, four out of the 10 sentinel hospitals in the Cordillera--Baguio General Hospital, Baguio Medical Center, SLU Hospital of the Sacred Heart and the Benguet General Hospital--have admitted 18 suspected meningococcemia cases.
Of the 18 admissions, five have recovered, four are still under observation and eight have died, among them the four latest deaths reported.
Baguio City recorded the highest cases with 12, followed by La Trinidad with four, and Itogon two.
An investigation conducted by the City Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit showed the three persons admitted on November 17 attended the wake of a suspected meningococcemia patient who died on November 6.
DOH records showed an increase of meningococcemia cases since 1997. Only two deaths from meningococcemia were recorded each in 1997 and 1999.
The disease is treated with the administration of antibiotics such as Penicillin or Rifampicin, a semi-synthetic drug that inhibits the growth of bacterial cells.
Prevention and control is through the maintenance of sanitation, and by avoiding crowded places and close contact with those suspected to have acquired the disease.
The City Government activated its barangay health workers to do massive information campaign about the disease. It has also requested the Department of Trade and Industry to monitor the prices of antibiotics in different drugstores in the city.
The health department, for its part, is coordinating with the different government agencies, schools and other offices to inform the public on how meningococcemia is actually being transmitted and how it may be prevented.
Rabindranath Quilala, the mayor's secretary, told Sun.Star the recent deaths should not be a cause for alarm since the City Government and the City Health Department were doing their job to manage and control the spread of the disease.
To prevent the spread of the disease, City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu) Chief Celia Brillantes advised the public to avoid crowded places, strengthen their immune system or resistance by taking in more vitamin C, citrus fruits and natural concentrates, and to practice good personal hygiene by covering their nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and washing hands frequently.
The public was also told to avoid close contact with infected persons, who should stay at home and not travel for at least a week.
"However, individuals with signs and symptoms, and who have a positive history of exposure to infected individuals should seek immediate medical consultation," said Brillantes.
Meningococcemia is also known as meningococcal septicemia, meningococcal blood poisoning, meningococcal bacteremia or bacteria in the blood. Family members and those closely exposed to an infected individual are at increased risk. The infection occurs more frequently in winter and early spring.
Patients are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital. Intensive monitoring and treatment are needed.
Neisseria meningitidis infection can occur in various forms. The most common is meningitis.
Meningococcemia can kill more rapidly than any other infectious disease. It is critical that the disease is identified early to implement prompt antibiotic therapy and supportive care.
Doctors advised those who suspect they have the disease to consult a medical worker immediately. The disease needs to be treated immediately because irreversible shock and death may occur within hours of the onset of symptoms.
(November 20, 2004 issue)
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