The Times-News reports, following a visit to Wise and Dickenson Counties in VA, a young man from Northeast Tennessee contracted bacterial meningitis and died Monday after returning to his home in Knox County.
Dr. John Dreyzehner, director of the Cumberland Plateau and Lenowisco Health Districts stated: “We have identified and contacted almost all the individuals known to have had close contact with the deceased. All those individuals that are believed to be at risk for exposure to meningitis either already have or will receive treatment as needed.”
New cases of meningitis are being reported at universities throughout the country, which is nothing unusual. Nevertheless, the disease , although treatable, can be contagious and fatal if ignored.
Wait. Don’t flip out just yet. The bacteria that causes meningitis isn’t as easily spread by casual contact as the common cold or the flu – but by direct contact with respiratory droplets or secretions from an infected person, such as saliva or nasal mucus. This can occur when an infected person coughs or sneezes in someone’s face, or by kissing or sharing personal items such as eating utensils, cups, water bottles or lip balm/lipstick.
Common symptoms of meningitis include fever and chills, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, and possibly a rash. Infants and young children may be sleepy, irritable and show a lack of appetite. Symptoms usually develop within two to 10 days of exposure.
The infection can cause seizures, brain damage, memory loss and death in otherwise healthy people in less than 48 hours. Early diagnosis and identification of the type of bacteria responsible is important for selection of correct antibiotics. If treated with antibiotics, meningitis has about a 15 percent fatality rate .
More information about the symptoms and treatment of meningitis can be found here.
A vaccine is recommended for youth ages 11-18, Dreyzehner said. And a new meningitis vaccine called a “conjugate” vaccine is available for persons age 2 through 5.
Earlier this week, U.S. federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided against recommending that all 2- to 10-year-olds get a meningitis vaccination.
Although the vaccine is considered safe, according to Dr. Carol Baker, president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, there is some question as to the availability.
Only one company, Sanofi-Pasteur, makes meningococcal meningitis shots.
“They are not sure they could supply the vaccine for 2- to 10-year-olds,” Baker said.
Parents may wish to discuss concerns about their child’s risk level with the family doctor and consider requesting the vaccine. It is more important, however, that you teach your children good hygiene and gently caution against sharing personal items, especially eating and drinking utensils.
Please do this in a way that does not traumatize your children. While I understand this is scary information and we certainly wish to prevent the spread of illness – we want to avoid being so germ phobic that our children develop obsessive-compulsive disorders or an irrational fear of dirt and/or spit.
Check out these resources on keeping the Mommy Germ Patrol practical: here, here and here. (My favorite is the article, which suggests maybe parents shouldn’t be placed before a firing squad if they forget to floss their child’s teeth once… or even twice.)
