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Spring Hill child has meningitis
By JENNIFER FARRELL, Times Staff Writer SPRING HILL -- A 6-year-old Spring Hill child has been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, according to officials from the Hernando County Health Department. The child was listed Thursday in stable condition at All Children's Hospital in Tampa, a day after being transferred there from Oak Hill Hospital, said Khinlay "Kelli" Maw, senior physician with the county Health Department. Maw said she expected the child to be transferred out of intensive care by today. In an announcement released Thursday, Health Department officials said they have notified the child's school and put doctors in the area on notice to look out for other cases. "People should not panic," said Maw. The disease is not transmitted through casual contact, but rather through close contact, such as sharing a toothbrush, eating utensils or drinking glass, she said. "You have to be in close contact with the patient who has the active meningitis." Symptoms occur suddenly and include fever, intense headaches, nausea and often vomiting, stiff neck and rash. Incubation varies from two to 10 days and often takes less than four. The infection spreads through close contact with saliva or nose secretions. Health Department administrator Elizabeth Callaghan declined Thursday to identify the child or the school in question, but said she is confident local officials have reached everyone who may have been exposed. "We have already taken steps to contact the classmates, the parents and so on," said Maw. "We've interviewed the child's parents. We know where the child's been, in and out of school." Health Department officials said the child was diagnosed Tuesday at Oak Hill Hospital. The next day, Oak Hill reported the diagnosis, as is required by the state. People who think they could have been exposed should contact their private physicians immediately, officials said. For additional information, call Deborah J. LeCompte, Health Department nursing director, at (352) 754-4067, extension 134. Assistant nursing director Janet Dick can be reached at extension 138. -- Staff writer Jennifer Farrell covers Spring Hill and can be reached at 848-1432. Send e-mail to farrell@sptimes.com.
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From today's Hernando Times |
