Child very ill with bacterial meningitis

ONE of three Limerick children diagnosed with bacterial meningitis is understood to be ‘very ill’ in a Dublin hospital.

The child was transferred in recent days from the Mid-Western Regional Hospital after the child’s condition worsened.

The outbreak has been linked to a crèche. The crèche was closed for a short period and all the children cared for there were vaccinated.

The three cases occurred in the Shanagolden and Askeaton areas of West Limerick in a period of six weeks.

A HSE spokesman said: “The most recent case admitted to hospital was on May 12. Families and close contacts of cases have been offered preventive antibiotics. Only very close contacts such as household members are at increased risk of contracting the disease.”

Information leaflets are available through local pharmacies, GP surgeries and from Shannondoc, the GP out of hours service.

Bacterial meningitis is an information of the lining of the brain which is caused by a bacteria carried by many people in the back of the nose and throat. However, in a small number of people the bacteria overcomes the body immune defence and passes through the lining of the nose and throat into the bloodstream to cause illness.

It can cause two types of disease: meningitis and septicaemia. Symptoms include stiff neck, sever headache, rash, drowsiness, fever, vomiting and abdominal/joint/muscle pain.

The HSE public health department can be contacted on 061 483337.