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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 28) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza B infection complicated by invasive pneumococcal disease affecting a two-year-old girl.
The patient, with good past health, presented with fever, cough, and runny nose since December 20. She was admitted to Hong Kong Baptist Hospital on December 23 and was subsequently transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further management today.
Her clinical diagnosis was pneumonia with pneumothorax and empyema, and she is currently in serious condition. Her nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for Influenza B, and her blood culture yielded Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Preliminary investigation by the CHP revealed that the girl had been immunised with 10-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and 13-valent PCV booster. The patient has no recent travel history. Her elder brother developed upper respiratory symptoms since December 19 and had recovered.
To prevent respiratory tract infections, a spokesman for the CHP urged members of the public to take heed of the following advice:
* Build up good body immunity by having a proper diet, regular exercise and adequate rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking;
* Maintain good personal hygiene, wash hands after sneezing or coughing and cleaning the nose, and wear a mask when symptoms of respiratory tract infection develop;
* Maintain good ventilation;
* Avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation; and
* Receive seasonal influenza vaccination. For details, please visit the Influenza Page of the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/view_content/14843.html).
Ends/Saturday, December 28, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:53
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