Meningococcal infection can be rapidly fatal.

Meningococcal disease is a particularly dangerous disease because the rate of progression can take a person's life in less than 24 hours from onset.

The many deaths caused by meningococcus have made many people worried, especially in the early stages when the cause of the disease has not been determined. More dangerously, this is a respiratory disease and often leaves serious sequelae.

The Tropical Disease Center of Bach Mai Hospital is treating a 48-year-old female patient with acute meningococcal meningitis and sepsis.

The patient lives in Ho Chi Minh City and traveled by bus to Ha Nam to celebrate Tet on the 28th of Tet. On the 8th of Tet, she had symptoms such as continuous chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and drowsiness. The family took the patient to Ha Nam General Hospital, then transferred her to Bach Mai Hospital for emergency care.

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At Bach Mai Hospital, after examination, doctors discovered a necrotic hemorrhagic rash on the patient's skin. The cerebrospinal fluid was cloudy yellow, doctors suspected that the patient had meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria and treated him with specific antibiotics along with isolating the area. The cerebrospinal fluid test results confirmed that the patient was positive for the dangerous type B meningococcal bacteria.

After 4 days of intensive treatment according to the protocol, the patient has stabilized and can be discharged in the next few days. Those who have been in close contact with the patient, including family members and medical staff, have also been warned and given preventive medication. The Center for Tropical Diseases has notified relevant units such as the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Ha Nam CDC to deploy epidemiological investigation measures, prevention and control if outbreaks occur in the community.

Unlike the female patient above, on February 10, a NVN soldier, a weapons officer of Battalion 4, Regiment 12, Division 3, Military Region 1 died of acute meningococcal septic shock.

Previously, on February 9, soldier N reported symptoms of fever, nausea, and abdominal pain. The unit's medical department examined him, administered IV fluids, fever reducers, and antibiotics, but his condition did not improve. He was transferred to Military Hospital 110 and then to Military Central Hospital 108 for treatment.

However, he did not survive. Through testing, 7 people who had direct contact with soldier N in Regiment 12 tested positive for meningococcal bacteria. The unit was quarantined, monitored and synchronously deployed epidemic prevention measures.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases, Bach Mai Hospital, said that meningococcal meningitis is a disease caused by dangerous group B bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, which resides in the throat and is transmitted through droplets.

The disease often occurs in densely populated areas such as military barracks, dormitories, and schools. The main victims are young people, people who are not immune or have not been vaccinated. The disease can progress rapidly, causing meningitis, sepsis, and more seriously, can lead to multiple organ failure and death.

There have been many deaths from meningococcus shortly after the onset of the disease, when the cause has not yet been determined. In 2024, Bac Kan province recorded 6 patients suspected of being infected with meningococcus bacteria.

Of these, the two previously hospitalized cases, a grandmother and her grandchild, did not survive, while the remaining four were treated intensively upon discovery. Notably, these six patients were all from the same family, and two of them were diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. Not long before, Hanoi also recorded its first meningococcal infection case in 2024 at Military Hospital 105.

According to Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, meningitis caused by meningococcal bacteria has many forms, of which the acute and hyperacute forms progress very quickly in just a few days. Symptoms include sudden high fever, headache, vomiting, impaired consciousness, and rapid coma, accompanied by hemorrhagic necrosis of the skin in the context of acute adrenal insufficiency syndrome, shock, and rapid death.

"If the cerebrospinal fluid is cloudy and the patient has these signs, we need to be immediately alerted and think about meningococcal infection," Associate Professor Do Duy Cuong emphasized.

Experts also warn that meningococcal meningitis has a mortality rate of 10-20%. Severe cases such as sepsis and adrenal insufficiency can lead to death within 24 hours. Therefore, when the disease is detected, timely treatment and isolation are needed.

However, people should not be too alarmed, because meningococcal meningitis is not a common disease, only occurring in some sporadic outbreaks or imported from other places. With its rapid progression and high mortality rate, patients suspected of meningococcal infection need to go to a medical facility early for timely diagnosis and treatment.

To prevent the disease, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, said that people need to proactively get meningococcal vaccine to protect their lives and those of their loved ones.

Vietnam now has vaccines to prevent the five most dangerous and common meningococcal serotypes: A, B, C, Y, and W-135.

Most people with meningococcal meningitis recover, but about 10-15% of patients may experience permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.

In addition to vaccination, people need to practice good personal and environmental hygiene, wear masks when in contact with or caring for sick people, and take preventive medicine.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/nhiem-vi-khuane-nao-mo-cau-co-the-tu-vong-nhanh-d248259.html