A child younger than 10 years old is sick with possible meningitis after two young adults died in an alarming spell in recent weeks.
The HSE is investigating four reported cases of meningococcal meningitis/septicaemia in Ireland dating from the last week of September.
The life-threatening illness has already claimed the lives of two young people, an 18-year-old boy from Dublin and a young woman in Limerick who was under 30 years old.
Of the four cases of meningitis being investigated, three have been confirmed and there is one possible case.
READ MORE: Irish teenager dies after 'rare and aggressive' meningitis as friends and family heartbroken
One patient is a child aged under 10 years of age and three of the victims are young adults.
They have no known links to each other and all hail from different parts of Ireland.
Public health professionals are identifying close contacts of the victims, who will be given antibiotics or a vaccine to help prevent them contracting the potentially deadly bug.
Dublin teen Ethan Banks died on October 1 in the ICU of Beaumont Hospital from a "rare and aggressive" form of meningitis.
The 18-year-old was a member of many different clubs and teams including Howth Yacht Club and was described as a young man "full of energy and passion".
It was the second meningitis death to hit the news in Ireland this week after a young woman died in September from the illness.
The victim was not identified and her age was not disclosed but it is understood she was female, from Limerick and aged under 30.
What is meningitis?
It is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. There are two main types of meningitis: bacterial and viral.
Viral meningitis is usually milder than bacterial meningitis. Most people make a full recovery from viral meningitis after 5 to 14 days.
Bacterial meningitis is more severe. It can be life-threatening and requires medical attention more quickly.
The germs that cause bacterial meningitis can also cause septicaemia (blood poisoning). Like meningitis, septicaemia is a serious illness that can be life-threatening.
Meningitis symptoms
Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:
- a high temperature (fever)
- being sick
- a headache
- a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
- a stiff neck
- sensitivity to bright lights
- drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- seizures (fits)
These symptoms can appear in any order. You do not always get all the symptoms.
When to go to your GP
You should get medical advice as soon as possible if you're concerned that you or your child could have meningitis.
Trust your instincts and do not wait until a rash develops.
How to check for a meningitis rash?
Look for tiny red or brown pin-prick marks that do not fade when a glass is pressed to the skin.
These marks can later change into larger red or purple blotches and into blood blisters.
The rash can be harder to see on darker skin, so check on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.
How is meningitis spread?
Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through close contact or saliva including:
- sneezing
- coughing
- kissing
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