A 12-old-child died of meningococcal infection in the City Children’s Hospital in Bishkek. The Ministry of Health confirmed the information.
The ministry noted that, according to the head physician of the Children’s Hospital Akylbek Mamanov, the patient was hospitalized in serious condition in the evening of February 23.
«The child was hospitalized in the isolation ward of the resuscitation unit. Given the severity of the baby’s condition, specialists of the Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital were called for emergency consultation, who confirmed the diagnosis of meningococcal infection, a generalized form. «Meningococcal infection, severe form with complication. Sepsis. Septic shock. Brain edema. Secondary thrombocytopenia.» Despite the complex of resuscitation measures, the child died six hours after hospitalization,» the Ministry of Health said.
Meningococcal infection is an acute infectious disease caused by meningococcus. It is characterized by cyclicity and seasonality, cyclic growths in incidence are repeated every 13-15 years. The last rise was registered in 2015, a gradual increase in its incidence has been observed since 2022.
Seven cases were registered in the republic in January 2023: in Bishkek — four, Chui region — two, Osh — one.
The ways of transmission of meningococcal infection are airborne, the source of infection is a sick person. Infection occurs through close contact and close communication. 1-10 days passes from the moment of infection to the onset of the disease. The patient is contagious to others from the first days of the disease.
All age groups are susceptible to infection, but children under five years old are more likely to get sick. Adolescents and young people are also at risk.
The main symptoms of the disease: severe headache, predominant in the frontotemporal region, repeated vomiting, not associated with eating and not bringing relief, fever up to 39-40 degrees Celsius, chills, lethargy, pale skin, refusal from food and drink.
The most formidable symptom that you should definitely pay attention to is the appearance of a rash.
The disease can develop in a matter of hours and even minutes, the so-called peracute forms, leading to serious complications, and in some cases to death. In this regard, when the symptoms of the disease are observed, it is necessary to urgently seek medical help and not self-medicate.
