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The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regional Health Agency (ARS Paca) confirmed the death of a high school student on June 13, probably due to an invasive meningococcal infection. Several measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease.
Death of a high school girl a few days from the baccalaureate
Friday, June 14, a high school student from the 1st Sbaderno private high school in Nice died of a meningitis lightning, according to Nice Matin. This type of meningitis would be a "purpura fulminans probably due to invasive meningococcal disease"According to the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur regional health agency (ARS Paca), purpura fulminans is characterized by small red spots on the skin that do not fade when pressed against other eruptions. purpura may be the first sign of cerebrospinal meningitis and any delay in diagnosis and treatment may be very serious.
According to the ARS Paca, measures have been taken to stop the spread of the disease. People in contact with the girl should benefit from preventive antibiotic treatment (Rifampicin). This is the family and relatives who have been in close contact. "This measure aims to prevent the appearance, recurrence and spread of the disease and to break the chain of transmission of the bacteria. This treatment must be administered within 10 days of contact with the contagious patient"says the statement from the ARS.
The germ being very fragile in the environment, the risks of transmission are very low. There is usually no need to disinfect premises or to treat people who have had occasional contact with the sick person. Parents of students received a note explaining the signs to watch: "these invasive meningococcal infections can result in fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, discomfort (photophobia) or spots on the body ".
Vaccination could be provided if the meningococcal disease is accurately determined (A, B, C, W or Y), a possibility that is not mentioned in the ARS communiqué.
Meningococcal meningitis: what is it?
Meningococcus is a very fragile germ that does not survive in the environment. Its transmission is made during close contact and promiscuity with an infected person, through saliva droplets or nasopharyngeal secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing …) but in no case by objects, animals or animals. 'water. These infections are not transmitted as easily as a cold or the flu. Meningococcal meningitis usually occurs in early childhood (
The most common meningitis symptoms are:
- High fever;
- chills;
- Headaches ;
- drowsiness;
- Photophobia (the patient wants to stay in the dark)
- Stiffness of the neck (which may be absent in infants);
- Vomitings ;
- Convulsions.
Invasive meningococcal infections are relatively rare in France, with 469 cases reported in 2015, resulting in 53 deaths, according to figures from the National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVs). Among 12 identified serogroups of meningococci, 6 are known to cause epidemics (A, B, C, W135, X and Y). Group cases or small epidemics appear sporadically in France, with seasonal variations.
Urgent care and treatment of the entourage
The suspicion of meningitis should encourage urgent care. The treatment of meningitis requires hospitalization to perform diagnostic tests and immediately start antibiotic therapy by the venous route.
The entourage can also be treated prophylactically (in prevention). The risk of transmission of meningococcal meningitis concerns only those who have been in direct contact with a patient in the 10 days preceding the onset of symptoms. Preventive antibiotic treatment is then proposed. There is no need for special disinfection or closure measures. In the case of meningococcal meningitis of serogroup A, B, C, Y or W, prevention also involves vaccination.
Today, there is an effective vaccine against meningitis type C. This vaccine is recommended since 2010 for people aged 12 months to 24 years. This vaccination is now mandatory for infants born on January 1, 2018.
In spite of the treatment, 5 to 10% of patients die within 24 to 48 hours after the onset of symptoms. Meningococcal meningitis is responsible for sequelae in 10 to 20% of survivors: brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities. In the absence of treatment, it is a deadly disease in half of the cases.
Created on June 17, 2019
Sources:
- nice morning
- Death of a schoolgirl in Nice following a suspicion of meningococcal infection – Communiqué of ARS Paca June 14
- Illustration of Purpura: Ministry of Health
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