Death of teenager sparks meningitis warning
Friday October 23 2009
PARENTS have been warned to look out for symptoms of meningitis following the death of a 17-year-old boy who is suspected of having contracted the disease.
As family members and friends try to cope with the sudden loss of Michael McGrath, from Grangemockler in Co Tipperary, the Meningitis Trust said yesterday that parents should err on the side of caution as people are more vulnerable to meningitis at this time of year.
Friends held a prayer service at his school in Callan, Co Kilkenny, yesterday evening in Michael's memory.
A popular teenager, who loved football and hurling and was preparing to play an important minor final this Saturday with the local Grangemockler club, Michael died on Wednesday after becoming ill while at school on Tuesday morning.
His parents Micheal and Catherine and his brother Wayne were yesterday said to be "devastated" by his death.
A friend posted a moving tribute on a Bebo page: "Mixer RIP -- a great man has met his end; a brother, a son and our dear friend; happy days, he filled with laughter. An example, we should all live after".
It's understood Michael returned home early from school on Tuesday complaining of a headache. His condition deteriorated during Tuesday night and his parents brought him to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel on Wednesday morning. However, doctors were unable to save his life.
His body was brought to Waterford Regional Hospital on Wednesday evening for a post-mortem examination.
Shocked
Michael was a pupil at Coláiste Éamann Rís in Callan where friends and classmates were yesterday struggling to deal with the news of his untimely death and held a prayer service after school in memory of their friend.
A statement released by principal Frank McKenna said that everyone in the school community was "shocked and saddened" by the sudden death of Michael after a short illness.
The HSE confirmed that the death was thought to have been caused by septicaemia, which may have been a result of meningococcal infection.
The Meningitis Trust said that there is an increase in cases of meningitis every year during the winter months.
The early symptoms can be mistaken for those of flu and include fever, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright light, drowsiness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, confusion and in some, but not all cases, a rash. Symptoms can appear in any order and some may not appear at all.
Meningitis Trust general manager Carole Nealon has urged the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and seek medical attention "as a matter of urgency" if there is any suspicion of the disease.
"Fighting common infections like colds and flu weakens our immune systems, leaving us all more vulnerable to meningitis," Ms Nealon said.
- Conor Kane
Irish Independent
