Meningitis Eight-year-old child dies as a result of severe meningitis

Eight-year-old schoolgirl died of meningitis - classmates should be examined

In Hesse, an eight-year-old girl died as a result of meningitis (meningitis). It could be that other people have become infected as well. Therefore, classmates and teachers should seek medical attention if necessary. According to authorities, all contact persons are currently being investigated.

Young girl died of bacterial meningitis

An eight-year-old student from Rosbach, Hesse, has died as a result of meningitis (bacterial meningitis). As the district Wetterau writes in a message, the girl had reported sick last Thursday and was picked up by the parents from the school. After the complaints increased, the girl's introduction to the University Children's Hospital after Gießen was initiated. On Tuesday, the confirmation of a bacterial meningitis was reported from there to the responsible health department. Because the disease is contagious, people who have had contact with the girl should seek medical attention.

An eight-year-old girl from the district Wetterau (Hesse) has died from the effects of meningitis. Since others may have been infected, classmates and teachers should be medically examined. (Image: k_rahn / fotolia.com)

All close contacts are identified

"In close cooperation between the school and health department, all close contacts are identified," it says in the message of the Wetteraukreises.

And further: "For them, according to the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute, a drug prophylaxis offered."

According to the information provided, the parents of the classmates concerned are asked by the school management to introduce themselves to the respective paediatricians, who have been informed by the health department.

This applies to the students of the class as well as a course that the deceased girl attended last week. Teachers should also introduce themselves to their family doctors.

Reportable illness

According to the health department of the district, the disease meningitis is notifiable.

Meningococci are bacteria that settle in the nasopharyngeal space of humans, where they are detectable in about ten percent of the population without any signs of clinical symptoms, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

They are most commonly transmitted as droplet infection. The bacteria are released into the air when speaking, coughing or sneezing in small droplets from the nasopharynx and can be inhaled from a short distance.

In addition, the pathogens can be transmitted even in close contact with patients as a smear infection, for example, by touching the nasal secretion. Outside the body, the bacteria die quickly.

Different courses

According to health experts, two forms of meningococcal disease can occur individually or together:

Meningococcal diseases are meningitis in about two-thirds of cases. In about one third of cases, the course is characterized by sepsis, "writes the RKI on its website.

The onset of the disease is usually very sudden and progressing rapidly.

For symptoms, quick medical help is needed

Symptoms such as headache, neck stiffness or nausea can occur during an infection.

Other complaints of meningitis include fever, photosensitivity, chills and a clouded state of consciousness, such as a strong drowsiness or dizziness.

Bacterial meningitis can result in severe disability or even death within a short period of time.

But: "If the disease is detected in time and countermeasures are taken, it can be cured by the gift of a combination of antibiotics," writes the Wetterau district.

Anyone can contract a meningococcal infection. Most often, however, it affects infants in the first year of life, toddlers or adolescents.

"The incubation period is usually 3 to 4 days, but it can also be between 2 and 10 days," says the RKI.

Already in suspected meningococcal infection sick people have to go to the hospital immediately! The infection is treated with antibiotics. For several years, a vaccine against the fatal disease is available. (Ad)