State issues health alert for form of meningitis

A 4-year-old child was hospitalized in Monmouth County last week with a confirmed case of menin-gococcemia, a potentially serious infection due to the bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis.

Donna Leusner, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), said Mon-day that the child’s condition was "serious but improving."

The child, an out-of-state resident, along with family, visited the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Brick Plaza, Brick Township, on June 18 from 7:30-10 p.m.

Because the child was potentially incubating the illness at that time, the DHSS and the Ocean County Health Department recommended that patrons of Chuck E. Cheese during that evening contact their healthcare provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing illness.

The child was admitted to the hospital June 20 with fever and rash. The disease is spread by prolonged, close contact with someone who has the illness.

The bacte­ria are spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing cups, bottles or eating utensils with the ill person. Even after exposure to the bacteria, it is very un­usual to get infected, and it takes two to 10 days before symptoms appear, according to the DHSS.

The DHSS offered the following in­formation about meningococcemia:

• Early treatment is important. The infection can be treated with antibiotics.

• Symptoms may include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, neck stiff­ness and a rash. These symptoms need immediate medical attention. Shock, coma and death can occur.

• Diagnosis can be made by laboratory tests of blood or spinal fluid.

• After exposure to the bacteria, an­tibiotics can prevent infection.

• Frequent hand washing is impor­tant. Cover nose and mouth with tissues when coughing or sneezing. Avoid shar­ing eating utensils, toothbrushes, cups, drinking glasses or water bottles.

Therefore, it is recommended that all close contacts of the case receive antibi­otics. The Monmouth County Health De­partment contacted family members of the child and other close contacts to rec­ommend antibiotics as needed.

Those seeking more information should contact their family doctor or the Ocean County Department of Health at (732) 341-9700, ext. 7502.