A MILLICENT boy has been released from hospital in a stable condition after being the latest person to fall ill with meningococcal disease.
After presenting with flu-like symptoms, three-year-old Xavier Yates was diagnosed with the relatively rare but serious infection last week.
The boy was diagnosed with the B strain of the virus, which is the 21st case of the particular strain diagnosed in South Australia this year.
Xavier was admitted to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to undergo treatment before being released this week.
In a statement, SA Health said it had identified numerous people who had contact with the patient, of whom a number had been directed to receive clearance antibiotics.
“Meningococcal health information has been distributed to contacts in accordance with the Invasive Meningococcal Disease Communicable Diseases Network Australia: National Guidelines for Public Health Units,” the statement said.
“No links have been established between this case and other recent cases.”
The state’s health department said there had been 34 cases of meningococcal disease reported in South Australia this year, compared to 21 at the same time last year.
In 2017, 21 of the cases have been the B strain, 10 have been the W stain and three have been the Y strain.
While there are 13 different types of meningococcus, most infections in Australia are caused by types B and C.
Meningococcal disease is a severe infection caused by the meningococcus, which may result in inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, blood infection, joint infection, eye infection, pneumonia or a rash.
The infection can affect all age groups, but is most common in children under five and young adults.
In infants and young children, the symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, refusing to take feeds, fretfulness, high-pitched or moaning cry and tiny red or purple spots that spread and enlarge to look like fresh bruises.
The mortality rate for meningococcal disease is approximately 5 to 10pc, with approximately 10 to 30pc of children and adolescents who survive the disease developing permanent limb deformity, skin scarring, deafness and neurological deficits.
