By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After initial tests on a five-year-old, who died earlier this month, came up negative for meningococcemia, a bacterial disease, confirmatory tests affirmed the results.

According to Bacolod City Health Office (CHO) Sanitation Division head, Dr. Grace Tan, while the tests came out negative for meningococcemia, which is very similar to dengue in terms of symptoms like high fever, colds, coughing, and rashes, the patient’s blood culture showed another bacteria called leuconostoc mesenteroides, which is a type of lactic acid bacteria, the kind found in probiotic dairy products.

She said it is possible the minor had a weak immune system, which may have contributed to an infection.

The cause of death was deduced to either septic shock, which may occur in response to an infection; or blood poisoning, when bacteria enters the bloodstream.

Tan said they are still treating it as “suspected meningococcemia,” based on the symptoms exhibited by the patient prior to their passing. Considering there are no other such infections currently being monitored, the CHO will be treating the situation as an isolated case.

Meanwhile, the patient’s parents and schoolmates continue to be closely monitored by the CHO.

Last week, the minor, who was not named, began vomiting while attending classes.

The minor was rushed to two private hospitals before being transferred to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) after the patient began showing symptoms of meningococcemia.

The patient later passed away while receiving treatment./DGB, WDJ