Child suffering from infectious meningitis

A four-year-old girl is suffering from a highly contagious meningitis in Kassel. The kindergarten has now been closed as a precaution.

A four-year-old girl is suffering from a highly contagious meningitis in Kassel. The kindergarten has now been closed as a precaution. Meanwhile, doctors suspect that a bacterial inflammation of the meninges (meningitis) is present. According to the responsible health department, therefore, children and adults who have come in contact with the ill girl should take antibiotics medication. Beforehand, a visit to the family doctor is necessary.

The health condition of the girl is critical, according to the health department Kassel. The child is currently being treated in the intensive care unit of a children's hospital. The kindergarten, where the girl regularly went, was closed as a precautionary measure, but now the KiGa is reopened, as the district manager of the region Kasse, Karin Müller, confirmed. The doctors suspect that a meningitis (meningitis) is present. The disease is u.a. transmitted by ticks and is considered highly contagious and dangerous. Children, caregivers, doctors and nurses were advised by the health department to take preventive antibiotics if they had close contact with the sick girl.

Meningitis often affects people who have a weak (elderly and chronically ill) or immature immune system. There are two types of meningitis, on the one hand the viral (ie caused by viruses) and the bacterial, purulent meningitis. Typical symptoms of meningitis include sudden onset of high fever, headache, stiff neck, tiredness, chills, dizziness as well as nausea and vomiting. If the course of the disease is severe, impaired consciousness and powerlessness can also occur. The disease meningitis can lead to death and is therefore notifiable. If meningitis has been triggered by viruses, the course of the disease is rather harmless. In contrast, bacterial meningitis caused by meningococci is rather dangerous and, if left untreated, may in some cases cause death.

In adults, purulent meningitis is rather rare, about 3 adults of 100,000 inhabitants fall ill in Germany every year. Children are more likely to be affected by meningitis in relation to adults. Most purulent meningitis affects children up to the age of 15 years (in the first 5 years 52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). (sb, 10.09.2010)

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