The HSE is urgingthe public to be vigilant for meningitis symptoms after a two children at the same Co Cavan crèche became infected.
The executive has visited the childcare facility at Ballyheelan, Kilnaleck and has given antibiotics to all children and staff who had close contact with the patients.
It has also given information and advice to parents of children at the crèche. The crèche staff and management have given “full cooperation and support”, the HSE said in a statement.
It has warned that nongonococcal infection is often “sudden” and “can be fatal”. However it says most people recover. The disease is most common in winter and spring and young children and adolescents are “most at risk it said.
It advises anyone suspecting signs or symptoms in themselves or their child to contact a doctor “immediately”.
Symptoms of the bacterial infection include: high temperature, headache, stomach, muscle or joint pain, nausea or vomiting, irritability, drowsiness, a blotchy purple rash which does not fade when pressed, a stiff neck, a dislike of bright light.
Symptoms in babies include tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot om top of head), blotching or pale skin, refusal to feed, shrill cry and jerkiness or floppy body.
The HSE said the bacterial infection does not spread easily and requires close and prolonged contact to pass from person to person.
