Investigation of An Infant With Meningococcal Meningitis in Pingtung County, 2012

Chyi-Mei Lai1, Shu-Hua Huang1, Min-Nan Hung1, Chi-Chuan Huang1

2012 Vol.28 NO.14

Correspondence Author： Chyi-Mei Lai

Abstract：

The Fifth Branch of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control received a notification on March 5th from a regional hospital in Pingtung County of a four-month-old girl with suspected meningococcal meningitis. The Center for Research and Diagnostics confirmed the isolation of serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis on March 8th. This is the first confirmed case of meningococcal meningitis in 2012, and also the youngest case of this disease in a decade. The patient developed high fever on February 29 and was brought to a regional hospital in Pingtung. She was subsequently hospitalized on the same day and received antibiotic treatment. Her vital sign was stable on the next day, and resumed the food intake and activity. In order to manage the contacts, the early symptoms of her family members and their close contacts should be closely monitored, especially fever. If contacts present fever and other symptoms, they should be classified as suspected cases for immediate specimen collection and treatment. Otherwise, test is not required for asymptomatic contacts. As susceptibility of meningococcal meningitis is quite low, not every contact will develop illness. It is necessary to assess whether to provide prophylactic medication based on their clinical symptoms, therapeutic medication, or directly and intensively contact with patients’ nasopharyngeal secretions.