Father of 8-year-old İrem, who died of meningitis, speaks out: It started with knee pain

8-year-old İrem Aslan, a student at Derince Bekir Sıtkı Özer Primary School, fell ill on Wednesday and was taken to the hospital. Tests revealed that the young girl had contracted meningitis. After being treated first at Kocaeli University Research and Application Hospital and then at the City Hospital, the young girl could not be saved despite all interventions during the night and passed away.

Meanwhile, following the news of İrem's passing, meningitis has caused concern in the school community. Some parents did not send their children to school as a precaution. While school desks remained empty, silence prevailed in the courtyard.

İREM LAID TO REST

The young girl's funeral was received by her family today and brought first to the front of her home and then to the Sopalı Çiftliği Mosque. The funeral prayer was attended by Aslan's family, her teachers, Kocaeli Provincial Director of National Education Ömer Akmanşen, the district governor, and citizens. Many of the citizens attending the funeral prayer were seen wearing masks. Following the afternoon prayer, little İrem was buried in the Martyrs' Cemetery.

"THE DISEASE PROGRESSED RAPIDLY"

Speaking to journalists, İrem's father, Furkan Aslan, stated that the disease progressed rapidly, saying, "They took her to the intensive care unit. She was treated in intensive care for 1 day. They had said her condition was stable at the end, and they transferred her to the City Hospital for ozone therapy. We stayed there for about 5 hours as well," he said.

"IT STARTED WITH KNEE PAIN"

Describing the symptoms of the disease, Aslan said, "She had minor symptoms while at home. It started with knee pain. She said she had knee pain for 2 days. On the 3rd day, she experienced vomiting. There was vomiting, foot pain, and pimple-like spots on one or two parts of her body.

We went to the hospital because of these pains. We first applied to Derince Training and Research Hospital. Because it could be an infectious disease, they referred us to Kocaeli University Training and Research Hospital. We went there on Wednesday at 15:00. From that time until 00:00 at night, they constantly performed tests and analyses. Finally, they took fluid from her spinal cord and ran a test. They detected meningitis there and started treatment," he said.

"SPOTS BEGAN TO COVER HER BODY"

Aslan stated that the spots on İrem's body increased during the hospital process, saying, "During this process, the spots increased more and more. They began to cover her body, and weakness set in. After the fluid was taken from her lower back at midnight, she was not herself due to the effect of the anesthesia. As the effects increased and the test results came out, they took her to intensive care. We stayed in intensive care for 1 day. Then we received the bad news," he said.

Furkan Aslan also said that they had all of İrem's necessary vaccinations done at the community health center.

"PREVENTIVE TREATMENT HAS BEEN APPLIED TO OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS"

In a written statement regarding the matter, the Kocaeli Governor's Office said, "İrem Aslan, a student in class 2/D at Derince Bekir Sıtkı Özer Primary School in our province, unfortunately passed away today despite all interventions while being treated for a meningitis diagnosis. After our student was diagnosed with meningitis, preventive treatment was applied to students and teachers who may have been in close contact. As of now, no meningitis symptoms have been encountered in or around the school in question.

Necessary information has been provided at the school by the health directorate teams, and our national education directorate teams are carrying out their guidance duties at the school, and the matter is being closely followed by our relevant directorates and our governor's office. We wish God's mercy upon our deceased student and offer our condolences to her grieving family, teachers, and friends," it was stated.