Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal Disease is a severe and deadly disease that affects approximately 3,000 people per year in the US. Ten to thirteen percent of the cases end in fatality despite receiving antibiotics early in the illness. Survivors often suffer severe complications that result in amputation due to the loss of circulation because the auditory canal becomes infected, loss of hearing, and mental retardation due to abnormal proteins in the brain. Outbreaks of meningitis have been reported throughout US college campuses. The CDC recommends that college freshman living on campus receive the meningococcal vaccine to help protect themselvesMeningitis is an infection of the spinal fluid (CSF) and the membranes that surround the brain and the fluid of a person?s spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is more common and can be caused by many different viruses but is most commonly caused by an entrovirus. Meningitis usually begins with a nasophoringial disease that is destroyed by the immune system. The patient recovers completely in about a week. In viral meningitis lymphocytes are increased from about 0-10 WBC/ml to 50
Recently, a conjugated vaccine was introduced, the vaccine combines the polysaccharide capsule with protein and it is effective in children. The UK wants all children 19 and under immunized. The American Health Association (ACHA), which represents about one-half of colleges with student health services in the US, released a statement alerting students and their parents about the dangers of meningococcal disease and vaccination. The ACHA initiated two studies of meningococcal disease and college students living in dormitories. Studies showed that freshman students living in dormitories constitute a group at a modestly increased risk for meningococcal disease. College bound students should consider receiving the vaccine. The vaccine costs about $65.00 and reduces the risk of contracting meningitis. The most common symptoms of meningitis are a severe headache, high fever for a long period of time, and a stiff neck and a rapidly spreading rash. These symptoms may occur in a few hours or develop over a few days. Other symptoms of meningitis include nausea, vomiting, photophobia, confusion, sleepiness, seizures, and coma. The disease starts with flu like sympt
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