Eastern Cape Health on paranoid youngsters over meningitis

26 March 2009

A number of youngsters are becoming paranoid, claiming to have symptoms of
meningitis, the Eastern Cape health department said on Wednesday. “There is a
psychological problem here. A number of youngsters come to our centres claiming
to have the disease, but it’s just paranoia,” said spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

Eleven children were admitted to East London’s Frere Hospital on Monday as a
precaution following the death at the weekend of a 16 year old boy from
meningitis. Of the group, nine of the girls were discharged soon after
admission, having been pronounced free of the disease. The other two were both
given a clean bill of health on Wednesday, after tests for meningococcal
meningitis came out negative. One was discharged on Wednesday and the other
would be discharged on Thursday.

All the youngsters were pupils at a city school. “A number of people are
arriving at hospitals, demanding medication for the illness, but we can’t just
dish out medication. What we can do is admit them as a precaution,” Kupelo
said. Prophylaxis would be given only to those who had been in close contact
with meningitis cases.

“Blanket prophylaxis is not an option. These are antibiotics, and if we
treat people unnecessarily they could develop drug resistance.”

There had been only two confirmed meningitis cases in the province this year
the 16 year old boy and a two year old girl who died at Frere Hospital on March
14. “There is no outbreak,” Kupelo said. Despite this Kupelo said the
department was still being swamped with calls from anxious members of the
public.

As a further precaution, he urged parents not to kiss their children if
meningitis was suspected. “If a child coughs, make sure they used a towel to
block their mouths,” Kupelo said.

Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
26 March 2009
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)