Teenager Mischelle Rhodes dies of meningococcal disease at Gosford Hospital
The mother of a Central Coast teenager who died from meningococcal disease at Gosford Hospital has described how quickly the deadly illness progressed.
Central Coast
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A grieving mother has told of how quickly meningoccal disease took the life of her previously healthy daughter.
Anjini Rhodes spoke to Channel 7 yesterday and said “The hospital did some blood tests, gave her Nurofen, gave her Panadol and sent her home.”
“They said she was okay.”
Mrs Rhodes told Channel 7 that by the next morning, Michelle was getting worse and began vomiting.
Her mother then took her back to Gosford Hospital and by lunchtime there was quick-spreading rash, but she died that afternoon.
“I thought she was going to be okay… [she was] such a healthy, beautiful girl. I didn’t think this was going to happen,” Mrs Rhodes said during the Channel 7 interview.
“It just took my beautiful girl away so fast.”
Central Coast Local Health District said it continued to offer support to the Rhodes family and would review the details of the case, including identifying the strainof meningococcal bacteria.
“The symptoms of meningococcal disease are often non-specific in the initial stages,” a hospital statement said.
“NSW Health information emphasises that meningococcal disease symptoms can evolve rapidly, and if you’ve already seen a doctor but symptoms continue to worsen, consult your doctor again or go back to the Emergency Department.”
Mischelle Rhodes, 19, is the second person to die of the deadly disease this year after a 38-year-old Central Coast woman died from the W strain of meningococcal at the beginning of August.
A third case of meningococcal was confirmed in June, but in a rare form of conjunctivitis, and the patient recovered fully.
Ms Rhodes was previously a student at St Peter’s Catholic College at Tuggerah and was an employee of InSport at Tuggerah Westfield.
She was studying for a Bachelor of Security Studies at Macquarie University.
Central Coast Local Health District has urged local people to be to be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease following the death of Ms Rhodes.
The strain of the disease has not been confirmed at this time.
Central Coast Local Health District Director Public Health Dr Peter Lewis said that close contacts of the young woman have been prescribed clearance antibiotics to reduce the risk of it being spread to anyone else.
“Our thoughts are with the family of this young woman at this tragic time,” Dr Lewis said.
“If anyone in the community develops any symptoms of meningococcal disease, it’s important that they seek medical advice immediately.
“Meningococcal disease is very uncommon in NSW and only two other cases have been notified in CCLHD this year, and only one case for the whole of last year.”
Meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread from person to person and the bacteria do not survive well outside the human body.
The bacteria are passed between people in the secretions from the back of the nose and throat. This generally requires close and prolonged contact with a person carrying the bacteria who is usually completely well, such as living in the same household.
SYMPTOMS
■ Symptoms of meningococcal disease may include:
■ Sudden onset of fever
■ Headache
■ Neck stiffness
■ Joint pain
■ A rash of red-purple spots or bruises
■ Dislike of bright lights
■ Nausea and vomiting.
NO LINK
There is no known link between this case and the recent death of a 38-year-old Central Coast woman from the W strain of meningococcal disease.
The NSW Government has invested $17 million in the Meningococcal W Response Program since 2017. The vaccine was offered free to students in Year 11 and Year 12 in 2017 and to students in Years 10 and 11 in 2018, and will be extended to students in Year 10 in 2019. More than 200,000 teenagers have been vaccinated with the meningococcal ACWY vaccine already.
Young people aged 15 to 19 years who did not receive the vaccine at school are able to receive it for free from their GP until the end of this year. Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is also given to children aged 12 months under the national schedule.
Visit the NSW Health Departmentwebsite for more information about meningococcal disease.