FORT WORTH A fourth grader at Park Glen Elementary School has died from meningitis.
Parents of students at the Keller ISD school received a letter from administrators on Tuesday that a child was seriously ill.
On Wednesday, another letter went home to explain that the boy had died of pneumococcal meningitis.
Pneumococcal meningitis is an inflammation and infection of the tissues that surround the brain by the bacteria streptococcus pneumoniae, explained Dr. Sandra Parker, a spokeswoman for Tarrant County Public Health.
The letter from Park Glen Elementary went on to say the disease is not contagious. Dr. Parker agrees that transmission through casual contact is uncommon and infrequent.
While it is spread by respiratory droplets so coughing, sneezing, freshly-soiled tissues touching those, it isn't usually transmitted through casual contact, she said.
Dr. Parker recommends that children who have the following symptoms see a doctor
- headache
- high fever
- chills
- lethargy
They don't want to wake up. Sometimes they complain about sensitivity to light, or headachne, nausea and vomiting, Dr. Parker added.
Doctors recommend vaccinating babies against the bacteria that causes this form of meningitis. It is not, however, a requirement for admission to kindergarten in Texas schools.
E-mail chawes@wfaa.com
