TACLOBAN CITY—The Department of Health (DOH) in Eastern Visayas confirmed the recent death of a 7-year-old boy of suspected meningococcemia, bringing to four the total number of fatalities of this dreaded disease this year.
DOH-8 epidemiologist Boyd Roderick Cerro said the latest victim was admitted to a hospital in Oras, Eastern Samar on July 12, but died the following day. He said the boy showed red rashes that were turning purple, a symptom of meningococcemia infection.
Three other children, whose ages ranged from 11 months to 11 years old, have already died of the same infection this year. Seven cases of meningococcemia have already been reported in Eastern Visayas since January.
The patients were from MacArthur, Abuyog, Carigara and Tacloban, all in Leyte and one each from Calbayog City, Samar and Oras, Eastern Samar. All patients were referred to the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center in Tacloban.
Cerro said people who were in direct contact with the patients seven days before the diagnosis were given precautionary medications.
Despite the reported cases of meningococcemia this year, the DOH has asked the public not to panic.
While the disease is not highly contagious, Cerro advised people to increase their resistance through exercise, diet and proper rest.
Cerro also advised people to avoid crowded places, maintain cleanliness and avoid sharing utensils used by an infected person.
“We discourage parents from bringing their children to crowded places because they have weaker resistance than adults,” he said.
He also said that early detection of meningococcal infection and prompt treatment will greatly improve chances of survival.
Meningococcemia is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the bloodstream caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
The bacteria frequently live in a person’s upper respiratory tract without causing visible signs of illness. “Some people who have the bacteria may not show any symptoms. It is necessary to have a strong immune system,” he said.
The disease can spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing foods, drinks and utensils.
Signs and symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, other respiratory symptoms, rashes that become larger and appear like bruises starting from the legs and arms, severe skin lesions, and (in some cases) delirium, altered mental state and vomiting.
Meanwhile, cases of dengue in Eastern Visayas dropped by 28 percent compared to last year.
Cerro said 2,029 cases of dengue have already been reported from January to July 15, compared to 2,838 cases reported during the same period last year. Eight people have died of dengue since January, the same number that was reported last year.
Health officials are giving special attention to Ormoc City in its monitoring. The DOH said 277 cases of dengue have already been reported in the city.
“Ormoc is vulnerable because some people are staying in evacuation centers where garbage disposal may not be good,” Cerro said.