Teenagers Died of Meningitis - Possibly More Pupils Infected

15-year-old boy died of transmissible meningitis
In Mönchengladbach, a 15-year-old boy died of a meningococcal infection during the night of Friday. Maybe other students have been infected. Persons who had contact with the adolescent should definitely contact the local hospital.

Teenage died of meningococcal infection
According to media reports, a 15-year-old boy in Mönchengladbach died of a meningococcal infection during the night of Friday. It is "a serious illness that can be life-threatening within a few hours," according to citizen information published by the local health department. Because the disease is contagious, people in contact with the teenager should report to the hospital.

In Mönchengladbach, a 15-year-old boy died of a meningococcal infection. You may also have other people infected. If symptoms occur, it is recommended to go to the hospital immediately. (Image: k_rahn / fotolia.com)

Blood poisoning due to bacterial meningitis
"The entire school community is deeply shocked by the news of the sudden death of our student Lukas Jansen," writes the Realschule Wickrath (district of Mönchengladbach) on their website.

"Lukas died of blood poisoning, the cause of a bacterial meningitis (meningitis) was," it says further.

The school asks as a precautionary measure to observe the following:

"Parents of children who had direct contact with Luke for the last ten days should report to the children's ward of the Elizabeth Hospital. Here you can get advice on antibiotic prophylaxis and if necessary get a suitable drug. "

Transfer by droplet or smear infection
Meningococci are most commonly transmitted as droplet infection. The bacteria, which are located in the nasopharyngeal space of the human, when speaking, coughing or sneezing in small droplets from the nasopharyngeal space into the air 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.

According to the citizen information, which is based inter alia on information from the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA), two forms of meningococcal disease can occur individually or together:

In about two-thirds of all cases, the disease manifests as meningitis. In about one third of the cases as blood poisoning. The onset of the disease is usually very sudden and progressing rapidly.

For symptoms quickly to the hospital
The deceased's school points out that in case of symptoms such as headache, neck stiffness or nausea, the immediate visit to the children's ward in the Elisabeth hospital is urgently recommended.

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

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," writes the Robert Koch Institute (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)