A CHILD has died after a suspected case of a killer brain bug.
Health protection bosses said the youngster – from the Calderdale area –died last week from suspected meningococcal meningitis.
The child has not been named and no details have been given about his or her age.
Dr Howard Barnes, consultant in co
mmunicable disease control at West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: "Clearly it is devastating when a child dies and our deepest sympathies are with the family concerned.
"The symptoms of this particular case suggest meningococcal disease, although it is not possible to confirm this at this stage.
"This case is obviously very tragic and, while I understand people's concerns in these situations, it is important to stress that this is a single case and it is very uncommon to see other linked cases of meningococcal disease.
"The organism does not pass easily from person to person."
He said the child's family had been offered preventative antibiotics against meningitis as a precautionary measure.
"Nationally, the number of cases of the disease has fallen dramatically since the meningitis C vaccine was introduced, but it is important to remember there are other strains of the disease for which we don't yet have a vaccine", Dr Barnes added.
"Early recognition of meningitis is important and so we should all be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease and seek urgent medical help if there is any concern at all."
Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening infection, and a term used to describe two major illnesses – meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).
These can occur on their own or, more commonly, both together. The infection can strike at any age, but most cases occur in babies and young children. The next most vulnerable group are teenagers and young adults.
Symptoms can include a high temperature and/or vomiting, severe headache, a stiff neck, aching limbs and joints, a dislike of bright lights, drowsiness and/or a purple rash that does not fade when pressed, and in small babies, a refusal to feed and a high-pitched cry.
Further advice and information about meningitis is available by contacting NHS Direct, the 24-hour helpline, on 0845 4647 or by visiting www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk.
There is also information available from the Meningitis Trust helpline on 0800 0281828 or the Meningitis Research Found- ation on 080 8800 3344.
The full article contains 396 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
