Infant Recovers from Bacterial Meningitis at Emek Medical Center

A five-month-old infant from Afula was recently hospitalized in serious condition at the Emek Medical Center after being diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. His parents, who initially believed the high fever was related to teething, quickly realized something was wrong. Thanks to the early recognition of warning signs and prompt medical treatment, his condition has improved, and he is out of danger.

Symptoms and Rapid Deterioration

The parents recalled that the baby woke up with a very high fever of 39.8 degrees Celsius. At first, they thought it was caused by teething since his first teeth were coming in, but they soon realized the fever was unusually high. The following day, they took him to the pediatrician. At that point, the infant was still active, smiling, and communicating normally, but during the examination, the doctor noticed swelling in the fontanelle—the soft spot on the baby's head—and urgently referred them to the emergency room.

Within a short time, the infant's condition deteriorated rapidly. Upon arrival at the emergency department of Emek Medical Center, the medical team identified signs raising suspicion of meningitis and immediately initiated treatment before test results were received.

"His general condition was poor, he looked very pale and apathetic, and suffered from a bulging fontanelle," said Dr. Gilad Chen, director of the pediatric emergency department at the hospital. "This swelling, along with the fever and apathy, led to the suspicion of meningitis. Since every minute counts in this disease, we started life-saving treatment before the lab results arrived."

Medical Risks and Pediatric Intensive Care

According to Dr. Chen, bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis carries a mortality rate of approximately 6% to 9% among infants, and 10% to 20% of survivors may suffer from neurological complications such as hearing loss, developmental delays, epilepsy, and cognitive impairment. After his condition stabilized, the baby was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit.

Dr. Gur Zamir, director of the pediatric ICU, noted that the infant responded well to intensive monitoring and treatment, and has since been moved to the children's ward for continued observation. Doctors emphasize that high fever, unusual drowsiness, decreased responsiveness, refusal to eat, and a bulging fontanelle are red flags requiring immediate medical attention. Additionally, medical professionals recommend discussing the Bexsero vaccine against meningococcal group B with a pediatrician starting at two months of age.