Ms. T.K. H., residing in Chanh Phu Hoa ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said that her son was born prematurely, currently nearly 4 months old. Right from birth, the baby had to be treated for many health problems.
According to Ms. H., when she was first born, the baby was diagnosed with intestinal-related diseases and had to undergo surgery to remove the temporary anus. After a period of treatment, the baby underwent surgery to close the temporary anus.
During treatment, doctors discovered that the baby had ventricular dilation. The baby has undergone endoscopic intervention and is currently being monitored. "After surgery, the baby's brain condition is still at that level, the doctor said it is necessary to continue monitoring to assess the progress," Ms. H. said.
Ms. H. said that because the baby was born prematurely and had to be treated early, the child has not been vaccinated yet.
Currently, the baby is being treated for fungal infection and additional meningococcus has been detected. According to Ms. H., the doctor is giving the baby medication and monitoring treatment responses. If the child's health is stable, he can be discharged from the hospital. The condition of ventricular dilation continues to be monitored.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), meningococcal disease can progress very quickly, causing meningitis, septicemia and life-threatening within 24 hours if not detected and treated promptly.
According to the monitoring report of the Ministry of Health cited by HCDC, there are currently 4 deaths nationwide, mainly children under 15 years old. Cases are recorded sporadically, and no concentrated outbreaks have yet formed.
The disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract when exposed to nasal and throat secretions of the patient or healthy person carrying the bacteria. The disease usually starts suddenly with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck. In young children, refusal to breastfeed, fussiness, lethargy, or swollen fontanelle may appear.
HCDC warns that in the most severe form, patients may experience petechiae on the skin, low blood pressure, septic shock, and rapid death. Young children, adolescents, people living in crowded environments, immunocompromised people, or those who have not been vaccinated are at higher risk.
When there are signs such as sudden high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting or abnormal rash on the skin, patients need to go to a medical facility immediately for examination.
According to HCDC, people living in the same house, studying in the same class, working in the same room, directly caring for or in contact with the patient's respiratory secretions are considered the group of close contact. These people need to notify medical staff to be evaluated and use preventive antibiotics when indicated.
In addition, HCDC recommends that people proactively prevent the disease by washing their hands regularly, keeping their accommodation ventilated, wearing masks when going to crowded places and limiting close contact with people with or suspected of having the disease. Vaccination is one of the proactive measures to prevent the disease.
