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Six-Month-Old Girl Dies of Meningitis Parents' Agony After Baby Contracts Deadly Bug

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 November 2005, 15:00 CST

By JONATHAN PAISLEY

A BABY girl has died in hospital after being struck down by meningitis.

The six-month-old tot lost her fight for life at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley after developing symptoms of the brain bug.

Doctors transferred the baby from a children's ward to an intensive care unit when she became critically ill.

But the baby, who had contracted meningococcal septicaemia, failed to respond to treatment and died shortly afterwards.

The baby's heartbroken family have been taking antibiotics as a safety precaution and are being monitored by health staff.

Hospital bosses said there was no threat of infection to other patients at the hospital or the general public.

Catherine Chiang, public health consultant for NHS Argyll and Clyde, said: "We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and stress that if a patient had meningococcal septicaemia no other patient would be at risk of developing the infection from them.

"The bacteria does not survive long outside the body and quite prolonged and close contact is required to transmit the germ.

"Only a tiny proportion of the population develops the infection if they come into contact with the bacteria.

"Most of us have some natural resistance and up to 25-per cent of the population can carry the strain of bacteria in their nose or throat harmlessly."

Staff at the RAH have notified the Meningitis Trust of the baby's death, it was confirmed today.

In June, dozens of parents received letters after a primary seven pupil at a Renfrewshire school was rushed to hospital with the suspected bug.

The 11-year-old boy was taken to the RAH and released after treatment.

And in September, two girls, aged four and two, needed hospital treatment after meningitis hit a Glasgow nursery.

Parents at the nursery school, and two toddler groups which use the same centre, were sent letters warning them to look out for signs of the bug.

Both children at the centre of the alert recovered, and health chiefs say they were not concerned about the further spread of the infection.

The adult survival rate for meningococcal septicemia, the most serious strain of the bug, can be as low as 50-per cent.

Viral meningitis is the more common but less serious form of the illness although it can be debilitating.

jonathan. paisley@ eveningtimes. co. uk TIMESFILE Shared symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia include fever, sickness, diarrhoea, severe headache, stiff neck, dislike of light, drowsiness and pains.

Signs of meningococcal septicemia include cold hands or feet, shivering, and rapid or unusual breathing.

Children feel lethargic and won't be able to tolerate bright lights. Often there's head pain which goes into the neck and shoulders.

Tots become less responsive, develop blotchy skin, and refuse to feed.

Parents can use the glass test to see if a child has the symptoms. If a glass tumbler is pressed firmly against a septicemic rash, the marks will not fade.

Source: Evening Times; Glasgow (UK)

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