An investigation will look at the GP's management of a case where a 14-month-old died of meningococcal disease hours after being seen. Photo / Thinkstock
An investigation has been launched after a Northland
toddler died from meningococcal disease hours after being seen by a GP.
Northland District Health Board medical officer of
health Jonathan Jarman said the board had been notified that a 14-month-old
from the Bay of Islands area died from the Meningococcal B strain. The child
had become unwell on October 14 and was taken to an after-hours GP service,
operated by the Te Tai Tokerau Primary Health Organisation (PHO) at Bay of
Islands Hospital in Kawakawa.
Dr Jarman said an investigation into the death would
be led by the PHO, which would look at the GP's management of the case. "Tragically,
the child died at home in the early hours of Monday, October 15,'' he said. "This
is the first death and the third case of meningococcal disease in Northland so
far this year. Earlier in October there was a 13-month-old boy, and in March
there was an 8-month-old girl. Neither case was fatal.''
Dr Jarman said he had met the child's family and
described it as one of the saddest cases he had seen. "Initially, it can
present like the flu or a tummy bug, but the difference is meningococcal
disease can get worse very quickly. Some people do not even get sick when they
catch the bug. However, a small number rapidly develop invasive meningococcal
disease,'' Dr Jarman said. "This case was an example of how quickly
meningococcal disease can progress, and I understand the sorrow and anger the
family are dealing with at this time.''
For more information about meningococcal disease, see
your doctor, practice nurse, medical centre or contact your local public health
service. For free advice after hours (24-hour service) phone
Healthline 0800 611116
Source: NZ Herald
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