‘Ring’ and ‘Lilo & Stitch’ star Davey Chase dies at 35
Davey Chase, a young actress known for her roles in “The Ring” and “Lilo & Stitch,” has reportedly passed away. She was 35 years old.
Davey Chase, the young actress best known for her roles in “Rings” and “Lilo & Stitch,” has died at the age of 35 from meningitis and a blood infection, her boyfriend Roy Hernandez tells TMZ.
Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord that provide structural support, tissue cushioning, and improved circulation.
There are several types of meningitis, including bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic, and those caused by noninfectious agents. While viral meningitis is the more common and less serious form of the disease, bacterial meningitis “accounts for a minority of meningitis cases but can lead to severe neurological complications and death,” Dr. Rodrigo Hasbun, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School, previously told USA TODAY.
Here’s what else you need to know about infectious diseases:
What causes meningitis?
Common causes of viral meningitis include enteroviruses, herpesviruses, West Nile virus, mumps, and influenza viruses.
Bacterial meningitis can be caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae, Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, previously told USA TODAY.
Fungi such as cryptococci, parasites, and amoebas can cause fungal and parasitic meningitis.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
Meningitis can cause a variety of serious and worrying symptoms, depending on the cause of the infection or inflammation. These symptoms include high fever, lethargy, hearing loss, kidney failure, confusion, brain damage, learning disabilities, coma, and even death.
“Other symptoms include hypersensitivity, loss of consciousness, stiff shoulders, seizures, nausea, vomiting, and photosensitivity,” Dr. John Sellick, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University at Buffalo, previously told USA TODAY.
Can meningitis be treated?
Treatment of meningitis varies greatly depending on the cause. For example, bacterial meningitis “requires immediate intravenous antibiotics and sometimes corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, whereas viral meningitis usually resolves on its own with rest, hydration, and painkillers,” Professor Nagata explained.
Fungal meningitis is treated with antifungal drugs, but antivirals may also be used for certain viruses like herpes, he says. “Noninfectious meningitis is managed by addressing the underlying disease, such as autoimmune disease or cancer,” he said.
Bacterial meningitis can be life-threatening, but “early treatment improves outcomes,” Nagata added.
Prevention through vaccination is also important. You can receive vaccinations against viruses that can cause meningitis and the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against the four types of meningococcus that cause meningitis. Sellick said the vaccine is “very effective in preventing infection.”
