Two Charlottetown children diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis last week, are still in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital although their disease is not considered life threatening. The children, both female, are four months and three years of age.
Chief Health Officer Dr. Lamont Sweet advised that pneumococcal meningitis is caused by a bacteria, commonly carried in the nose and throat of healthy people. It only rarely causes meningitis, and is not considered contagious. No measures such as providing antibiotics or vaccine to contacts is recommended, he said.
"There is no obvious connection between the two cases. However, there are several different bacteria and viruses which can cause meningitis at any time.," Dr. Sweet advised, "Parents are advised that children with meningitis often have a headache, fever, vomiting, a stiff neck or a skin rash that looks like bruises. Children with meningitis usually become very ill in a very short period of time and should be seen by a physician," he said.
There have been four cases of this type of meningitis diagnosed in the province in the past twelve years. This is fewer than the number expected based upon the cases diagnosed in Canada.