Teenager in hospital with killer disease

September 2, 2006 from SMH

A TEENAGER suffering from meningococcal disease was last night being treated in the intensive care unit of a hospital in south-west Sydney.

The 16-year-old boy was in a stable condition after arriving at Campbelltown Hospital by ambulance yesterday, a NSW Health spokeswoman said. The boy's family were given antibiotics as a precaution after it was confirmed he had the disease.

Other people who may have had recent contact with him are being contacted and given information about the disease.

In most cases, the infection is treated with antibiotics and early detection and treatment can result in a full recovery.

Two weeks ago, Jehan Nassif, 18, died of meningococcal disease in Bankstown Hospital. An autopsy is to be held into her death, on August 18, just days after she visited the cousin of her boyfriend, a meningococcal patient, in hospital.

Ms Nassif's boyfriend, George Khouzame, was given antibiotics because he had been in close contact with his cousin during a holiday in Greece, but was told Ms Nassif did not need medication.

The guidelines, applied to Ms Nassif, do not recommend antibiotics for people who have had only brief contact with a sufferer.

The Health Minister, John Hatzistergos, has since urged a panel reviewing the treatment of meningococcal patients to speed up its inquiry. A three-year-old boy from Bonnells Bay died from suspected meningococcal disease at Wyong Hospital on August 28.

A 26-year-old woman from Avalon was admitted to Mona Vale Hospital last Saturday with symptoms including a rash and fever. Her boyfriend and two flatmates were given antibiotics.

A 21-year-old woman died of the disease in July and a 16-year-old boy was admitted to Royal North Shore last month.

AAP