Baby girl dies of meningitis
The child, whose name has not been released, died in a Dublin hospital in the early hours of yesterday morning after being transferred from Letterkenny General Hospital (LGH).
It is understood she died from the meningococcal strain of meningitis and that a number of her family members are being kept under observation in LGH as a matter of precaution.
She was taken to LGH after becoming ill on Saturday evening before being transferred to Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Dublin in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Funeral arrangements could not be confirmed at the time of going to press.
A spokesperson for the Health Services Executive (HSE) reassured the public that the risk of infection occurring in other children or adults in the community is very small. The HSE has urged vigilance in looking out for symptoms of meningitis. Infection can occur at any age, but children and young adults, in particular, are at greater risk.
The spokesperson said that early recognition was the key to successful treatment, but added early symptoms may not be specific.
Symptoms include headache, temperature, vomiting, neck stiffness and joint pain while bright lights may also cause irritation. In some cases a rash of red or purple spots which initially look like pin pricks or bruises and which subsequently grow bigger are of particular concern.
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