9-year-old girl infected with ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria Whitmore

On June 8, according to a report by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Dak Lak province, the province recorded 1 case of infection with the “flesh-eating” bacteria Whitmore. The patient is a nurse (female, 9 years old, living in Chieng village, Ia Lop commune, Ea Sup district).

According to the patient’s family, V started to get sick about 10 days before he was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of high fever, swelling, and pain in the parotid region on both sides.

The patient’s family took the patient to a private clinic and took the drug for 3 days (unknown type) but it did not decrease.

On June 4, the patient was brought to the hospital by his family members at the Central Highlands General Hospital, admitted to the General Pediatrics Department in a conscious state, with a fever of 39 degrees, the parotid glands on both sides were swollen and firm. mobile…

On June 7, the patient had a high fever continuously, the temperature was 41 degrees Celsius, the parotid abscess on both sides was cut, oozing blood, and liquid bridges 5 times a day.

The patient’s test result was positive for Burkholderia Pseudomallei with the postoperative diagnosis of bilateral parotid abscess/ Burkholderia Pseudomallei sepsis/ TD Meningitis.

Bacterial disease “cannibal” (scientific name Whitmore) is an infectious disease that is difficult to detect and treat in time because it is easily confused with other diseases.

Whitmore’s disease (also known as melioidosis) is an acute infectious disease caused by a gram-negative bacterium called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The disease was described by Dr. Alfred Whitmore in 1912 in Burma, from which it took the name Whitmore. This bacterium lives on the surface of water and in soil, especially mud, and is transmitted to humans through scratches on the skin or through inhalation when breathing in dust particles or droplets in the air containing the bacteria. , especially in the rainy season.