Door-to-door drive to thwart killer disease

A widespread door-to-door campaign has begun in South Auckland as health professionals try to lower the rate of meningococcal disease among Maori and Pacific Islanders.

Nearly one in 100 Islander infants and one in 250 Maori contract meningococcal disease compared with one in 2000 Pakeha babies in the region.

Auckland Healthcare's public health protection unit has set up teams of Pacific Islanders and Maori who will visit homes in Otara, Mangere, Glen Innes and Clendon warning residents of the dangers of meningococcal disease.

The 25-strong, specially trained team will hand out educational pamphlets - written in several languages - about the disease.

They will also provide residents with red cards which, when shown at medical centres, will warn doctors that the person is suffering from meningococcal-type symptoms.

The cards are designed to help patients who cannot speak English well enough to communicate their concerns to health professionals.

Project coordinator Dr Philip Hill said August and September were the peak months for meningococcal disease and more than 200 cases were expected this year.

The disease mostly affected infants but Dr Hill said it could strike people of any age.

The two main varieties of meningococcal disease were meningitis and septicaemia.

"The meningococcal septicaemia has a higher death rate and people can be in danger from not recognising the signs because they do not think they have got meningitis."

Meningococcal septicaemia and meningitis shared several symptoms, including a fever, vomiting or a rash of purple or red spots anywhere on the body.

Dr Hill said parents should take their children to a doctor immediately if any symptoms were apparent.

"If seen early they can usually be cured with antibiotics.

"But if the diagnosis is made too late, the antibiotics don't have time to work."

Dr Hill said patients could also be lethargic and children might refuse drinks or cry often.

In some there might also be a stiff neck, a headache or a dislike of bright lights.

He said the disease was spread, mainly in poorer areas, through close contact caused by overcrowding, poor ventilation and other factors such as smoking.

Coughing, sneezing, kissing and hugging could also spread the meningitis bug.

- NZPA