Spring Break
Western student gets meningitis
University Relations
Issue date: 12/1/03 Section: News
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According to Pat Sartore‚ Beu Health Center director‚ bacterial meningitis is contagious. However‚ students living on the infected student's floor have been taken to Beu for appropriate medical treatment. Those students who had already returned home for Thanksgiving break were notified at their home residences in order to receive medical treatment. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics‚ Sartore added.
According to the Mayo Clinic's Web site‚ bacterial meningitis can be caused by a variety of bacteria and might cause the following flu-like symptoms: high fever preventing a person from eating or drinking‚ severe headache‚ stiff neck‚ sensitivity to light‚ muscle aches‚ vomiting‚ rash‚ diarrhea and sore throat. Those experiencing these symptoms should seek medical treatment immediately‚ as the disease can progress very quickly.
For more information‚ contact Beu at 309/298-1888.
The following includes information from a communicable diseases fact sheet from the New York State Health Department.
* What is a meningococcal disease?
A meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord).
* Who gets meningococcal disease?
Anyone can get meningococcal disease‚ but it is more common in infants and children. For some college students‚ such as freshmen living in residence halls‚ there is an increased risk of meningococcal disease. Between 100 and 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses every year in the United States. Other persons at increased risk include household contacts of a person known to have had this disease‚ immunocompromised people and people traveling to parts of the world where meningitis is prevalent.
* How is the germ meningococcus spread?
The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person. Many people carry this particular germ in their nose and throat without any signs of illness‚ while others may develop serious symptoms.
* What are the symptoms?
High fever‚ headache‚ vomiting‚ stiff neck and a rash are symptoms of meningococcal disease.
* How soon do the symptoms appear?
The symptoms may appear two to 10 days after exposure‚ but usually they appear within five days.
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