Physicans at local hospital issue warning of Meningococcal Disease Symptoms

Thursday, January 4th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Due to three recent cases in eastern Oklahoma, and at Saint Francis Hospital of the rare and serious pediatric condition, meningococcal disease, physicians at the Children's Hospital at Saint Francis' Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) wish to issue a warning to parents.

"There is no cause for undue alarm," said says Phil Barron, M.D. at the PICU at The Children's Hospital at Saint Francis. "This is in no shape, form or fashion an epidemic. Yet, we want parents to be aware of this serious illness and especially of its characteristic rash." Apart from other flu-like symptoms such as high temperatures (usually greater than 102 degrees Fahrenheit), head and joint aches and nausea, children affected by meningococcal disease also acquire a very distinctive rash. "Being aware and identifying the rash that signals meningococcal disease is the key," Barton said. "The rash appears as very tiny, purple dots that soon evolve into large purple blotches. If your child is experiencing severe flu-like symptoms with a high fever accompanied by this characteristic rash, it is extremely important to call your physician immediately as this disease progresses very rapidly and may lead to overwhelming infectious shock," he explained. "The earlier a patient receives antibiotics and supportive care, the better the chances for survival."

Meningococcal disease (also known as meningococcemia) can strike at any age, but is more commonly known as a pediatric disease since 80 to 90 percent of those who are diagnosed with it are under the age of 21. It is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria that lives in the nose and throat and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children between the ages of 2 and 18 in the United States. Infants and children under the age of two years are particularly susceptible. Meningococcemia is a seasonal disease with most of the infections occurring in the winter months berween November and March.

The disease is spread by direct contact with the saliva or with respiratory droplets from the nose and throat of the infected person. To help prevent the spread of this serious infection, anyone with cold- or flu-like symptoms should cover their mouths and nose with disposable paper tissues when sneezing or coughing.

"With approximately 50 cases a year in Oklahoma, meningococcal disease is still considered a rare infection," Barton said. "By providing this information, our goal at Saint Francis is to proactively alert parents and other caregivers of this disease, and of its characteristic purple rash. And it bears repeating again, if your child is experiencing severe flu-like symptoms with a high fever accompanied by this rash, it is of vital importance to call your physician immediately."

For more information regarding meningococcal disease, please call Saint Francis' PICU at 918 - 494 - 5492.