DOH probes death of Sta. Rosa pupil to ‘Meningococcemia’

SAN PEDRO CITY – A 13-year-old boy from Sta. Rosa City, Laguna died in what the hospital described as a “highly suspected” case of Meningococcemia, an acute and contagious disease.

The Department of Health (DoH) in Calabarzon on Tuesday, said it was already looking into the case, although it did not give any details pending the results of its investigation.

In a separate public advisory issued Tuesday, the city government of Sta. Rosa said the teen died on September 22, after he was rushed but declared dead on arrival at the Sta. Rosa Community Hospital (SRCH).

Prior to this, the Grade 8 pupil of the Balibago National High School in the city, repeatedly complained of a headache and dizziness in school.

On September 19, the teen went to the school clinic due to fever, his body temperature shooting up to 38.8 degrees. The school sent him home in the afternoon after giving him medicines for fever.

“The child’s disease is not yet confirmed but based on the clinical manifestation, according to an SRCH official, it was ‘highly suspected’ to be Meningococcemia,” the city advisory read.

According to the DoH, Meningococcemia is  “potentially life-threatening” infection caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. It can spread through coughing or sneezing or sharing infected food or utensils. Among its symptoms are fever, rashes, cough, and sore throat.

The hospital took samples from the teen’s cerebrospinal fluid, which was sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City for testing.

It also administered prophylaxis to the teen’s family and hospital personnel, who had a close contact with the patient, and ordered the school premises disinfected.

“The city government appeals to the public to stay calm until we confirm the child’s disease,” it said./lb