News from the week of August 1, 2008
Welcome to CrisisID. Thank you for joining us online. This week Meningitis makes the News.
Meningitis can be a serious infection, and it can be contagious – which is why outbreaks make the news. Such was the case on July 24, 2008, when there was an outbreak of meningitis at the Eisenhower State Office Building in Topeka, the Kansas capital. State officials sent an e-mail to the building’s more than 800 employees, informing them of the cases and urging them to seek treatment from their personal health care provider if they show any symptoms.
Following is very important information that we have gleaned from the internet to help you protect yourself and your loved ones from the scourge of meningitis. It comes from various sources which we have deemed as reliable and hope you take the time to look through. CrisisID’s sole reason for being is to keep you and your family as safe as they can be.
Meningococcal disease is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can lead to meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcal septicemia, an infection of the blood.
Meningococcal disease, caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in older children and young adults in the United States. It strikes 1,400 to 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 150 to 300 deaths.
Adolescents and young adults account for nearly 30 percent of all cases of meningitis in the United States. In addition, approximately 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses each year, and five to 15 students will die as a result. Evidence shows approximately 70 to 80 percent of cases in the college age group are potentially vaccine-preventable.
Can It Be Prevented?
Washing your hands really well and often is one way to defend against meningitis and other infections.
Although bacterial meningitis can seem scary, the chance of getting it is quite low. However, because it can be so serious, doctors now recommend that all teens get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (the type caused by Neisseria meningitides bacteria). Many colleges actually require their students to get meningitis vaccines. It’s also sometimes recommended for people traveling to countries where meningitis is more common.
There are also vaccines for some other types of meningitis. If you have a medical condition that affects your immune system, for example, a doctor may also recommend a vaccination against the S. pneumoniae type of bacteria. But vaccines don’t exist for all types of bacterial meningitis.
When to Call the Doctor
If you have meningitis symptoms, call your doctor right away. Early detection and treatment of meningitis are very important to avoid serious health problems.
If you’ve been in close contact with someone who has bacterial meningitis, see your doctor, even if you have no symptoms. The doctor might prescribe antibiotics to help prevent you from getting the infection. A fast diagnosis can also keep the infection from spreading to others.
Vaccination Recommendations for College Students
Because disease rates begin to climb earlier in adolescence and peak between the ages of 15 and 20 years, the vaccine is also recommended for all adolescents 11 through 18 years of age.
The American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends all first-year students living in residence halls receive the meningococcal vaccine. The ACHA further states that other college students under 25 years of age may choose to receive meningococcal vaccination to reduce their risk for the disease.
These recommendations, coupled with ample supply of a vaccine that may provide longer duration of protection, will help increase rates of immunization against meningococcal disease and will give college health professionals the guidance needed to help protect college students against meningococcal disease.
What Is Meningitis?
Meningitis means inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges (pronounced: muh-nin-jeez). It often occurs when an infection elsewhere in the body spreads through the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that circulates in the spaces in and around the brain and spinal cord). People can get meningitis at any age.
There are several types of meningitis, and their severity and treatment can vary depending on which type a person has. Most cases of meningitis are caused by viruses (viral meningitis) or bacteria (bacterial meningitis), but fungi and other organisms can also cause infectious meningitis. Some cases of meningitis result from head injuries, certain cancers or other diseases, or reactions to medications.
Viral meningitis is caused by such viruses as enteroviruses, which are very common in summer and early fall. These viruses can spread through contact with saliva, mucus, or feces (poop). That doesn’t mean that people need to kiss or share a sandwich to catch the virus, though. People can spread the infection when they touch surfaces that others will touch or when they sneeze without covering their mouths. Enteroviruses begin to multiply in the digestive tract and can spread through the body to cause meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis is a more severe form of the infection. If it isn’t treated promptly, it can cause brain damage and, in some circumstances, even death. The most common bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis in teens are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis. People can spread them through throat and respiratory secretions — for example, by coughing or kissing. After a person is started on antibiotic treatment for meningitis, the infection can still be spread to others for at least 24 hours.
One form of bacterial meningitis is related to Lyme disease. Lyme meningitis is generally less severe than other forms of bacterial meningitis and is not fatal.
Meningitis is often misdiagnosed as something less serious because early symptoms are similar to the flu.
Influenza (the flu) and Meningitis may look a like but…
Meningitis is often misdiagnosed as something less serious because early symptoms are similar to the flu. Early symptoms of meningococcal disease may include sudden onset of fever, headache and stiff neck. Nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, altered mental status and seizures often accompany these symptoms. After the disease has taken hold, a rash may appear.
Know the Symptoms
Vomiting ~ Headaches ~ Drowsiness ~ Seizures ~ High Temperature~ Joint Pain ~ Stiff Neck ~ Rash ~ Dislike of Light ~ A High-Pitched Cry ~ Dislike of Being Held ~ Arching Back ~ Blank Expression ~ Pale Skin Color
High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect, and the infant may only appear slow or inactive, or be irritable, have vomiting, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
Information provided www.cdc.gov
How is meningitis diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. If symptoms occur, the patient should see a doctor immediately. The diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid. The spinal fluid is obtained by performing a spinal tap, in which a needle is inserted into an area in the lower back where fluid in the spinal canal is readily accessible. Identification of the type of bacteria responsible is important for selection of correct antibiotics.
Can meningitis be treated?
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk is higher among the elderly.
This information should not be substituted for professional medical treatment, advice or diagnosis. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking advice because of something you have read.