4-year-old infected with the dangerous bacteria: “one of the most violent infections”

A 4-year-old toddler from Holon is currently hospitalized at the Wolfson Medical Center after contracting an invasive meningococcal infection. He arrived at the children’s emergency room in serious condition after suffering from the familiar symptoms, and tests revealed that he was infected with the meningococcal bacteria. His condition is now listed as stable.

“This is one of the most violent, dangerous and rampant infections we know of in pediatrics,” says Dr. Diana Tesher, director of the pediatric department at the Wolfson Medical Center. “The meningococcal bacterium can attack a perfectly healthy person and within a few hours lead to system collapse, a septic shock and a real life-threatening condition.”

This is a bacteria that may be found in the pharynx even without causing disease. According to Dr. Tesher, about 10-20% of the population carries it, but in some cases it may penetrate the bloodstream or the nervous system, causing a severe invasive disease, including meningitis or sepsis.

“Any delay in diagnosis or treatment could be critical”

One of the main difficulties is that in the early stages, when the disease may look like a common viral disease. “The first signs are not specific and are very similar to a normal viral illness – fever, weakness, muscle aches or headaches – but the rate at which the disease escalates is dramatic,” explains Dr. Tesher. “Within only 24 to 48 hours, the patient’s condition may deteriorate into a violent illness, so any delay in diagnosis or treatment may be critical.”

The disease is especially common among babies and toddlers up to two years of age, and immunosuppressed people and people living in overcrowded conditions are also at increased risk. Signs that should turn on a red light include neck stiffness, apathy and petechial rash – red or purple dots that do not go away when pressed. According to Dr. Tesher, the appearance of such signs requires an urgent request for medical treatment.

The current case occurs about three months after another serious case in the center of the country. In June, a 3-year-old toddler was brought to the Ichilov Medical Center in serious condition and in an infectious state, with a clinical suspicion of invasive meningococcal infection. Despite prolonged resuscitation operations and the efforts of the medical team, his death was determined.

According to Dr. Tesher, in Israel there is a vaccine against meningococcal strain B, which is considered the most common strain in the country. The vaccine, Bexsero, is not included in the childhood vaccination routine, but it is recommended for children up to the age of 5, and especially for babies and toddlers up to the age of two.