Meningitis: A Deadly Infection In Close Quarters: Why Students And Children Are Vulnerable

The recent deaths of previously healthy college students has spurred concerns about how meningitis is formed, spread and treated. According to the MFA (Meningitis Foundation Of America), there are nearly 6,000 new cases of the dangerous bacterial meningitis every year. Children of all ages are susceptible. Although meningitis is relatively rare compared to other infections, the seriousness of bacterial meningitis' sudden, severe and sometimes fatal symptoms strike fear into the hearts of parents everywhere. Vaccines are available, but are not universally required. Here are the latest facts on meningitis and information on how you can protect your family:

What Is Meningitis And Why Children, Students And The Elderly Are Vulnerable?: Meningitis is a serious infection that causes inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Except in rare cases, it is caused by either viruses or bacteria. Viral meningitis, the most common type, usually causes mild symptoms and clears up on it's own within a few weeks. Bacterial meningitis is potentially fatal and requires immediate, and sometimes drastic medical attention including amputation. Lasting effects from bacterial meningitis can include deafness, paralysis and seizures. Anyone who spends a good deal of time in or lives in a group setting (day cares, college dorms, nursing homes) is at increased risk for meningitis. Young children are particularly susceptible to bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, and sharing cups, forks and spoons. Meningitis is not caught through casual contact. Parents should teach children about covering coughs and sneezes and not sharing anything from which they drink or eat. Also, encourage your children to wash their hands frequently. Doing so helps remove any germs with which your child might have come in contact.

Diagnosing, Treatment And Prevention: Early diagnosis is critical to a good outcome. Treatment for the less severe viral meningitis includes merely treating symptoms and making a patient comfortable since the patient will usually recover on his own in a matter of weeks. The more serious bacterial meningitis is typically treated with immediate and rapid doses of strong antibiotics. Most cases are diagnosed between the months of November and March.

Vaccines that prevent meningitis are widely available. The CDC recently modified its recommendations about when best to get vaccinated against meningitis, recommending that all persons aged 11-55 be vaccinated with the MCV4 vaccine (Menactra). Mandatory vaccinations are currently in place in only approximately 20 colleges. Most colleges allow students to sign a waiver to opt out of the vaccination. Only 12% of college students received the vaccination in 2006, but officials are hoping these numbers are rising. Many states are currently considering making the vaccine mandatory and opting out more difficult.

An older meningitis vaccine (MPSV4- known as Menomune) is recommended for children aged 2-10 who are at high risk for meningitis.

The CDC says that like any vaccine, Menactra may carry side effects such as allergic reaction and redness or pain around the injected area. Menactra has allegedly been linked to a few extremely rare cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome (statistically 1.25 times for every 1 million meningitis vaccines given) but the CDC reports that the vast majority of reactions are mild ones and the tiny risk or reaction is worth the protection the vaccine offers:

“It’s (Menacrea) a safe vaccination, it’s an effective vaccination, and it’s one of those terrible, terrible risks — albeit extremely rare — that you can really minimize by spending money on the vaccine,” says Dr. Jim Turner, Chair of the Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Committee for the American College Health Association.

Meningitis is a real concern for children, students and for seniors. Fortunately, practicing good hygiene such as frequent hand washing and the avoidance of sharing cups, utensils and close quarters, along with being up-to-date on recommended vaccinations, make getting Meningitis less likely.