Health authorities defend treatment of meningococcal victim

South Australian health authorities say they doubt anything could have been done to save a 15-year-old northern Adelaide boy who died of meningococcal over the weekend

South Australian health authorities say they doubt anything could have been done to save a 15-year-old northern Adelaide boy who died of meningococcal over the weekend.The boy died just 10 hours after falling ill.For most of that time he was under medical attention with treatment given as soon as meningococcal was suspected.Information will be sent to his 150 classmates at the northern Adelaide school the boy attended.It is the third death from the disease in South Australia this year.Rod Givney of the Department of Human Services says the boy’s individual response to the disease meant he went into shock very rapidly.”Through most of that time he was actually in medical care and he received what seems to have been the optimum care,” he said. “But it is an indication that despite everything…despite even the very best treatment, meningococcal disease can be rapidly fatal.”(ABC,Last Update: Monday, September 15, 2003. 10:48am (AEST))