Tragedy struck and got the authorities on alert, as a 5 year-old-boy dies of bacterial meningitis in Florida.
Sadly, it has now been confirmed that the child died last week and this was the cause. The little boy’s name is Kamar Devin and he was a student at the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary. An inquiry is the way, as no one is quite sure how this could have happened. Sources report that the little boy’s father, Dante Seawright is deeply shaken and cannot comprehend how such a tragedy could have struck him and his family.
The little boy was praised by family, friends and fellow students at his elementary school, all saying he was always kind to everyone he met.
The school’s principle, Kristina Granger, has released a statement expressing her grief and her condolences to the family and friends of little Kamar. She has offered support, saying the school will be there for anything the family might need. Also, she has initiated a GoFundMe page, so that people can donate and help the family with the burial expenses.
The Health department will continue to keep an eye on the school and the family, but no other cases of the contagious disease have been reported so far. Nonetheless, members of the family and all the people who came in direct and close contact with the little boy have been given antibiotics, as a form of precaution.
The disease is very rare and, unfortunately, Kamar is the first child to die from it in Florida in recent memory.
Bacterial meningitis occurs when one of its specific bacteria enters the blood stream, which it uses to travel all the way to the spinal cord and then the brain. The brain can also be reached if the patient suffers from a cracked skull, ear or sinus infection, which the bacteria will use as a vehicle.
Its symptoms include stiffness of the neck, nausea, headaches, photophobia and confusion. It is curable by the use of antibiotics, but the patient needs to report to the doctor’s immediately as he/she notices these symptoms.
The best method of fighting bacterial meningitis remains the vaccine, which doctors recommend patients to undergo as soon as possible and, also, a very sound education about the illness, its characteristics and risks. In the same way, people who know that they have a rather weaker than normal immune system, should stay clear of infected ones.
Image Source: www.public-domain-image.com
