Cerebral spondylitis cases increase in the South
On May 9, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said that according to data from the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City, in the first 4 months of 2025, the Southern region recorded 12 cases of scoliosis in 8/20 provinces and cities. This figure increased by 9 cases compared to the same period in 2024.
Localities with cases include Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Lam Dong...
In Ho Chi Minh City, since the beginning of the year, the locality has recorded 4 cases of meningococcal disease.
According to experts, in the coming time, there is a high risk of more cases appearing in the community.
Recently, Thu Duc City Hospital successfully treated patient H.V.T (13 years old, Binh Duong province) with meningitis due to brain tissue. The child was hospitalized with symptoms of high fever, severe headache and a 2-day sleep.
Doctor Nguyen Ha Phuong - Head of the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care - Neonatal Medicine of Thu Duc City Hospital shared that meningitis caused by brain tissue is a medical emergency that requires diagnosis and quick intervention.
Thanks to early diagnosis and active antibiotic treatment combined with supportive measures, after 3 days, the child had positive progress.
Acute infectious disease, which can cause death
HCDC reports that scoliosis is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. This bacteria causes many diseases from mild to severe such as meningitis or sepsis, which can be acute, progressing very quickly in a few hours and can cause death.
Everyone can get sick. However, people living in crowded places such as dormitories, laborers, etc. are at higher risk of disease.
Initial symptoms similar to flu include: sudden high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash (burning red spot, spreading rapidly on the skin), stiff neck, convulsions, coma. In severe cases, the disease can cause septic shock, multiple organ damage, and rapid death within 24 hours.
The disease is transmitted through drop shots, so it is necessary to take disease prevention measures such as keeping the place of residence clean, keeping the place of residence and work well; keeping personal hygiene; not spitting in public; covering the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
In addition, wear a mask when sick or in close contact with sick people, when going to crowded places, especially when going to the hospital.
If you are in close contact with a person with scoliosis, you should notify local health workers to take a preventive antibiotic.
According to HCDC, there are currently many vaccines against scoliosis bacteria with different serotypes available at vaccination facilities.
This vaccine is not on the list of mandatory vaccinations, people can be vaccinated if conditions are favorable.
Doctor Ha Phuong also especially emphasizes the importance of regularly monitoring children's health and should not hesitate to take children to the hospital when detecting unusual signs such as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck or blood spots on the skin.
With serious complications that can occur such as hearing loss, weak limbs, seizures or brain damage, raising vigilance and taking active preventive measures is extremely necessary to protect children's health from the danger of scoliosis bacteria.
