A South Carolina boy died last weekend from a rare but aggressive bacterial infection he contracted days after graduating from the eighth grade.
William Hand, 14, became severely ill after getting meningococcal septicemia, an uncommon condition that causes bloodstream infections and meningitis.
William died Sunday, just days after showing symptoms. He was an athlete and comedian, his grieving family said.
“The infection happens so quickly, and once it starts going, sometimes it is very hard to save the person who is infected with the bacteria,” said Dr. Anna-Kathryn Burch, with the Prisma Health Pediatric Infectious Disease.
The illness spreads through saliva and respiratory secretions and close contact with infected people.
It can cause high fever, severe headache, sensitivity to light, nausea, and vomiting.
