In the United Kingdom, a little boy died one day after complaining about being bad under his arm. A pain behind which a meningitis hid.
- In England, Jaxon, 4 years old, complained of having pain in the armpit. Later, stomach ache, vomiting and swelling in the mouth and tongue appeared.
- Affected by meningitis, he was plunged into a coma before dying.
- “There was no symptom of meningitis,” said the little boy’s mother.
After a short stay in Blackpool, England, with his family in mid-February, Jaxon, a 4-year-old boy, expressed suffering in the armpit. His mother, Sammy Knowles, told British daily The Mirrorthat after this complaint, he fell asleep and then woken up with stomach pain. During the night, the 40 -year -old woman noticed the presence of a rash on her son. At first, the latter thought it was chickenpox, but his condition had quickly worsened because he vomited and his mouth and tongue began to swell.
Child dead after pain under his arm: “There was no symptom of meningitis”
Neither one nor two, her parents called for help. “He could not breathe anymore, so we had to turn it on the side. (…) We had the impression that eternity had passed before the paramedics of the paramedics. We were not told that it was a meningitis until we were in the ambulance. They informed us that 15 nurses and doctors were waiting for our son in the intensive care unit of the Rotherham hospital. Talking about meningitis for years. “
No more knowing what to do after several care, healthcare professionals plunged the little boy into a coma and intended to transfer him to a children’s health establishment. “While during an intervention, they managed to operate his heart again, they reminded us in an emergency in the room some time later, because Jaxon had died.” Two weeks after his death, his parents are still in shock while they are preparing for the funeral of March 10. “It still doesn’t seem real. He was fine all weekend and in a few hours he left. There was no symptom of meningitis”, said Sammy Knowles.
Meningitis: How is this infection manifests?
In the case of Jaxon, an atypical symptom of meningitis, namely pain in the armpit, has occurred. As a reminder, in general, this inflammation of the meninges, made up of three membranes protecting the central nervous system (brain, cerebellum, brainstem and spinal cord), combines infectious syndrome (fever, violent headaches, vomiting) and a meningeal syndrome (stiffness of the nape, lethargy, or even coma). “In newborns and infants, these symptoms are less marked: brutal fever access is sometimes accompanied by convulsions or vomiting. The appearance of hemorrhagic spots under the skin (purpura), gradually stretching (extensive purpura), is a criterion of severity of infection and a threat of septic shock, imposing antibiotic treatment and emergency hospitalization”, noted The Pasteur Institute.
Vaccination, the best way to prevent meningitis
The treatment of meningitis is based on taking antibiotic, antifungal or antiparasitic drugs. Currently, the only way to prevent this infection and its consequences is vaccination. In France, since January 1, 2025, acwy -conjugated meningococcal vaccine is compulsory for all infants with an injection at the age of 6 months and a second at the age of 12 months. This is also recommended in all adolescents aged 11 to 14, according to a dose scheme, regardless of their vaccination status. As part of a vaccination catch -up, this vaccination is also indicated between 15 and 24 years old.
The obligation has also been applied for Meningococcal B vaccine since the start of the year. Babies must be given a first dose three at the age of three months, a second at the age of 5 months, and a recall at the age of 12 months. “Vaccination against meningococcus is also recommended for people (immunocompromised) carrying certain diseases, for exposed professionals, and to go to certain countries”, precise The Ministry of Health.
