Sangeeta Persaud died from Meningitis

Apr 21, 2010 News

Amidst all the speculation surrounding the death of 14-year-old Sangeeta Persaud following alleged attempts to exorcise demons, Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh has confirmed that the teenager died from meningitis.
Dr. Singh who performed the post mortem examination on Persaud’s remains had initially indicated that his findings were inconclusive. However he had taken samples from the teen’s body to be able to definitively conclude her cause of death.
He had even taken samples from the dead girl’s stomach since there were reports that anointing oil had been poured down her throat during the exorcism.
Following the tests it was confirmed that the exorcism had nothing to do with Persaud’s death – she had died from meningitis.
Reports that the teen was bleeding from her vagina were also dismissed as just complications with her menstruation cycle.
The mysterious death of Persaud had created a huge division between the residents of Canal Number Two Polder on the West Bank of Demerara.
Some residents are still convinced that had the child been taken to the hospital immediately after falling ill, instead of wasting hours trying to rid her of spirits, she might have had a chance of survival.
After Persaud fell ill, relatives engaged members of their church since they were convinced that she was attacked by evil spirits.
It was not until after several hours of trying to rid her of the ‘spirits’ that Persaud was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she succumbed despite the frantic efforts of doctors.
Meningitis can lead to serious long-term consequences such as deafness, epilepsy, hydrocephalus and cognitive deficits.
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs.
Meningitis can be life-threatening because of the inflammation’s proximity to the brain and spinal cord; therefore the condition is classified as a medical emergency.
The most common symptoms of meningitis are headache and neck stiffness associated with fever, confusion or altered consciousness, vomiting, and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises. Sometimes, especially in small children, only nonspecific symptoms may be present, such as irritability and drowsiness.
A lumbar puncture may be used to diagnose or exclude meningitis. This involves inserting a needle into the spinal canal to extract a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the fluid that envelops the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is then examined in a medical laboratory.
The usual treatment for meningitis is the prompt application of antibiotics and sometimes antiviral drugs.  In some situations, corticosteroid drugs can also be used to prevent complications from overactive inflammation.