Two children, teen die of meningitis in RY Khan

Experts say infection affects fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord

RAHIM YAR KHAN: At least three people, including two children and a teen, died after suffering from meningitis fever in Rahim Yar Khan on Friday.

Doctors at Sheikh Zayed Hospital told Express News that three adolescents, identified as eight-month-old Tayyaba Bibi, a resident of Jampur, 15-year-old Shabana Bibi and one-month-old Abdul Basit were admitted to the health facility with meningitis fever symptoms.



They said that the children were being provided treatment, but they could not survive and died at the medical facility. The bodies of the victims were handed over to their families after the completion of legal formalities.

While commenting on the situation, health experts said that one person is infected with meningitis every minute across the globe. In Pakistan, 8% of post-neonatal deaths occur each year as a result of this infection.

They revealed meningitis fever is a bacterial illness and affects infants and children up to 18 years of age. The infection affects the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Research showed that meningitis was common in infants under the age of one and young adults between the age of 15 and 19.

They maintained that worldwide, nearly 137 people die every day because of meningitis and about 0.5 million people get infected every year.



Experts pointed out that the 10% to 14% people, who recovered from meningitis, end up developing medical conditions. These conditions can cause them to lose their hearing, body parts or create complications in their nervous systems.

They said it is also a major cause of death and disability in Pakistan, but is somehow overlooked.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2018.