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Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Child, 4, treated for contagious blood illness
By Lizanilla J. Amarga and Joey P. Nacalaban
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- A four-year-old child, confirmed to have the dreaded meningococcemia, is currently confined at the isolation ward of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, authorities said Tuesday.
Mayor Vicente Emano said City Health Office head Jerie Calingasan told him that another person is also suspected to be suffering from the acute blood infection and is now closely monitored by doctors in a local hospital.
Northern Mindanao Medical Center chief Dr. Evelyn Pepito-Clarete, who just came from a hospital upgrading seminar in Manila, said though that he does not know of any other patient suspected of having meningococcemia.
Meningococcemia is caused by Neisseria meningitides or bacteria that live in a person's upper respiratory tract.
The Provincial Board of Misamis Oriental committee on health announced it would be looking into reports of meningococcemia in the province.
This came after the Office of Civil Defense in Northern Mindanao together with the Research Institute for Mindanao Culture held Tuesday a forum with local health officers at Xavier University.
The forum was regarding measures being taken to control the spread of diseases in the locality.
Blood samples
In an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, Clarete said their pediatricians admitted last Monday night a four-year-old patient they suspected to be suffering from meningococemia.
She said the child came from one of the barangays in the city and was exhibiting meningococcemia symptoms that include flu, high fever, vomiting, and neck stiffness, among others.
"Immediately, a physical examination was conducted on the child and it was clinically confirmed that the child is suffering from meningococcemia," Clarete said.
"This is why the child was then treated for this illness and so far the fever has gone down," she added.
Clarete said they are not taking any chances and have taken samples of the child's blood to be properly checked by experts in Manila.
She said the results of the "blood culture" from Manila could take days. In the meantime, they are closely monitoring the child's condition.
"We have also taken not just blood samples but also fluids from the spinal cord or a lumbar tap," Clarete said.
She added they have isolated the child and kept people away from the ward to keep them from getting infected.
Extra measures
Both Mayor Emano and Clarete called on the public to stay calm and to take extra measures to boost their immune systems.
Clarete said there is no need to panic as the dreaded bacteria that cause the illness have been around for a long time and there are now medicines to counter the illness.
"It is just that this bacteria can really affect the person's health rapidly," she admitted.
Clarete added that the best thing to do as of now is to always keep everything clean, wash one's hands, boost one's immune system, take in vitamins, keep windows open and avoid crowded places.
Provincial Board committee on health chairman Santiago Sabal said they would look into the reports of meningococcemia and what they could do to make sure that the people in the province are protected. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Sunnex)
(November 30, 2005 issue)
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