A 3-week-old baby has died from meningitis, with her parents believing the newborn contracted the disease from contact with someone with herpes 1, possibly a kiss from a well-wisher, in a story that has put national attention on the vulnerability of babies in their first few weeks of life.
The newborn’s death was announced via Facebook, with her mother, Nicole Sifrit posting on her personal page.
“Our princess Mariana Reese Sifrit gained her angel wings at 8:41 am this morning in her daddy’s arms and her mommy right beside her,” Mrs. Sifrit wrote Tuesday morning. “She is now no longer suffering and is with the Lord. Thank you to everyone who has followed her journey and supported us through this. In her 18 days of life she made a huge impact on the world and we hope with Mariana’s Story we save numerous newborns life. R.I.P. sweet angel.”
Doctors say it’s a reminder of the vulnerable state of a newborn and that protection from outside germs is key during the first few weeks of life.
Iowa couple Nicole and Shane Sifrit had welcomed their daughter Mariana on July 1. One week later, a few hours after the couple celebrated their nuptials, they noticed the newborn was unresponsive and had stopped breathing a few times, WQAD, a local media station, reported.
The couple rushed Mariana to the hospital where they were told she had contracted meningitis HSV-1, which causes inflammation around the lining of the spinal chord and brain.
Mrs. Sifrit told WQAD that doctors said Mariana had contracted the disease by coming into contact with someone carrying herpes 1, the type that causes cold sores. Both mother and father tested negative for the virus, Mrs. Sifrit said, and that doctors believe someone who carries the virus gave the baby a kiss and infected her.
“They touch her, and then she touches her mouth with her hand,” she said.
Parents are advised to be careful in the first few months of a newborns life in controlling what foreign germs a child can exposed be to, Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician at Calabasas Pediatrics in California, explained to CNN.
“The first two months after a child is born are very critical, as a virus can rapidly spread and cause serious illness in newborns,” she said.
Mr. Sifrit told the news station that Mariana was airlifted from Des Moines to Iowa City Children’s Hospital and was under the observation of a number of specialists.
“She has a kidney team, a liver team, a blood team, a neurology team,” he told WQAD at the time.
“… Keep your babies isolated, don’t let just anyone come visit them, and make sure they are constantly washing their hands,” he continued. “Don’t let people kiss your baby, and make sure they ask before they pick up your baby.”
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