Meningitis Vaccination Recommended for College Students
Norfolk, Va.- The American College Health Association now recommends meningitis vaccine for all college bound students. In recent years we have seen an increase in deaths from meningitis among students. Virginia has not been spared with recent fatal cases. College campuses have a greater risk of outbreaks than the general population, because of the prevalence of risk factors, such as concurrent upper respiratory infections, passive and active smoking, bar patronage and excessive alcohol consumption.
Meningococcal meningitis is a contagious, potentially fatal infection of the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord. If not diagnosed and treated promptly, it can lead to permanent complications, such as brain damage or hearing loss, and can be fatal. Transmission is by direct contact with an infected person or with his/her nasal or oral secretions. Students just don't realize the danger in sharing a soda or tasting their friend's food. Most infections are sub-clinical, which means the infected person carries the disease without displaying any symptoms. The incubation period is usually two to ten days; the average is three to four days.
Meningitis is characterized by sudden onset of intense headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and stiff neck. Neurological signs include lethargy, delirium, coma and/or convulsions. Even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate therapy is instituted, the case fatality rate is between 5% and 1-%; it may exceed 50% in the absence of treatment. In addition, 15% to 20% of these who survive will suffer with neurological problems. Because meningitis is potentially fatal, it should always be viewed as a medical emergency. Admission to a hospital is absolutely necessary.
Vaccination against meningitis is effective and simple, lasting three years. Students should get vaccinated against meningitis, Hepatitis B and Chicken Pox if they have not had the disease as a child.
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