A six-month-old baby girl has been rushed to hospital after contracting and invasive strain of meningococcal.
South Australia Health confirmed the child from Adelaide is in a stable condition after being identified as having the serotype W strain.
Meningococcal is a highly contagious and potentially deadly illness which can cause a number of horrific symptoms including rashes, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as blood poisoning.
A six-month-old baby girl has been rushed to hospital after contracting and invasive strain of meningococcal (stock image)
South Australia Health confirmed the child from Adelaide is in a stable condition after being identified as having the serotype W strain (stock image)
‘The Department for Health and Wellbeing has identified multiple people who had contact with the baby, and 15 people have been directed to receive clearance antibiotics,’ SA Health said in a statement.
There have been four cases of meningococcal in SA this year, including a 29-year-old Adelaide man who died after contracting the rare disease.
Meningococcal is a highly contagious and potentially deadly illness which can cause a number of horrific symptoms including rashes, inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, as well as blood poisoning. Pictured: A 3D microscope close up of meningitis bacteria
Doctors say the telltale symptom includes rashes that often appear as red or purple pinprick spots, or larger bruise-like areas.
However there are some cases when a rash does not appear.
Other symptoms include, fever, headache, neck stiffness, discomfort when you look at bright light, nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea and feeling very sick.
The devastating long-term effects include loss of arms and legs deformed arms and legs, aches and stiffness in the joints, scars on the skin, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), deafness in one or both ears, kidney or liver failure, ongoing headaches, blurred or double vision, blindness and learning difficulties.
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