According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Sometimes this disease is called spinal meningitis. It is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium. Viral meningitis is usually less serious and can resolve without any specific type of treatment. Bacterial meningitis can have severe outcomes including brain damage, hearing loss, limb amputations, or learning disabilities (1, 2).
The American College Health Association states that the bacterium that causes meningococcal disease is called Neisseria meningitides and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in older children and young adults in the United States. Approximately 1,400 to 3,000 Americans each year are infected with this disease and about 150 to 300 of them will die from it (2).
Adolescents and young adults account for nearly 30 percent of all cases of meningitis in the United States. College campuses report about 100 to 125 persons infected with meningitis annually and about five to 15 students will die as a result. “Evidence shows approximately 70 to 80 percent of cases in the college age group are caused by serogroup C, Y, or W-135, which are potentially vaccine-preventable.”(1)
Meningitis is contagious and the progression of the disease is rapid. It is spread through person-to-person contact and through air by droplets from coughing and sneezing. The bacteria also can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, such as oral contact with shared items like cigarettes or drinking glasses, and through kissing. Freshmen living in dormitories are up to six times more likely to get the disease than other people (1-3).
Symptoms can be similar to the flu or other diseases that cause fever. This can make it difficult to diagnose. Other symptoms include:
If you notice these symptoms in yourself, in your friends or others, contact your college health center or local hospital. These symptoms can come on suddenly and be very severe (1-3).
There are two vaccines in the United States that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration and have been available since 1981. One of the vaccines, MenactraT, is recommended for college students and others who may live in close quarters with many people (e.g., military, prisons, dormitories, etc.).
The vaccine is safe and effective against four of the five types of bacteria responsible for meningitis and it lasts for about three to five years. Reactions to the vaccine include pain and redness at the site of injection and/or a mild fever) (1-3).
A sample of spinal fluid must be obtained to confirm meningitis. This sample is collected by conducting a lumbar puncture or spinal tap, in which a needle is inserted into the area of the lower back where spinal fluid is accessible. The type of bacteria or virus must be identified in order to properly treat the patient (2,3).
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. Early treatment with antibiotics is important in order to reduce the risk of serious outcomes (1-3).
1. American College Health Association. (2006). Meningitis on College Campus. Retrieved from http://www.acha.org/projects_programs/meningitis/disease_info.cfm#overview
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006). Meningococcal Disease. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm
3. National Meningitis Association. Meningitis on Campus: Don’t Wait. Vaccinate. Retrieved from www.nmaus.org
http://www.acha.org/projects_programs/meningitis/disease_info.cfm#overview
