Naxxar children treated against meningitis

Schoolchildren who came into contact for a length of time with a meningitis-infected child at the primary school in Naxxar have been given preventative antibiotics, the principal medical officer, Charmaine Gauci said yesterday.

A child, who was not identified for medical confidentiality reasons, was found to have the potentially fatal meningococcal meningitis earlier this week. Once St Luke's Hospital notified the public health department, it started to work on identifying anyone who had been in contact with the child for a few hours or more, such as family and schoolfriends.

The parents of the schoolchildren were counselled on the disease and the preventive treatment being given, and the drugs were then given: pills for the adults and syrup for the children.

Dr Gauci explained there was a set procedure for when meningitis cases were identified which was scrupulously followed, to avoid the disease spreading. This also ensured there was no panic.

The infected child is still being treated.

This was the first case of meningococcal meningitis this year. There were two cases of meningococcal septicaemia in January this year, the same number as in January last year.

In 2002, there were four cases of meningococcal meningitis, and 10 of meningococcal septicaemia.

Meningitis is a brain and blood poisoning disease, spread when people are in close contact, such as when kissing or if someone sneezes.

A simple test is suggested to identify the presence of the disease, using a glass.

The test is to press a tumbler firmly against the skin, where a patient exhibits a rash. If the rash remains, after being pressed with the glass, the patient should seek urgent medical help.

The disease is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to flu.

In Malta the worst period for the disease is January-February. In February, 1998, 28 cases of meningitis were reported for the preceding 18 months, six resulting in death.