College students at risk of contracting Meningitis: Prevention and taking action

Jess Pellegrino – General Assignment Reporter 

Earlier this February, a Yale undergraduate student was admitted to the hospital with a likely case of bacterial meningitis. This “close to home” case of meningitis stirred up a resurgence in attention to the topic.

According to the Center for Disease Control, “Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.”

In other words, meningitis attacks a body’s membranes which are responsible for basic bodily functions. When meningitis does hit, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to decrease the risk of not only death, but also permanent damage.

Meningitis is spread easily in community settings, such as in dorm rooms. Therefore, when an outbreak occurs in a college setting, it is particularly worrisome. Recently, there has been increased fear of meningitis on college campuses.

Some of the symptoms of bacterial meningitis include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and confusion. At first, these symptoms can be confused for flu symptoms, especially now, during flu season. These symptoms can begin to show up between three and seven days after the individual is exposed to the bacteria.

Meningitis is a serious illness which spreads rapidly. Any indication of the illness should not be ignored, because the sooner the individual receives medical attention, the better their chances of survival are.

Healthy people can carrying the disease in their mouth or nose and never get sick, and bacterial meningitis rarely “invades” the body.

Bacterial meningitis is not transmitted through the air. Meningitis is transmitted through saliva and mucus, so a student could acquire the disease through kissing, or very close contact with a person who is infected. Therefore, it is a lot harder to contract meningitis than it is to, for instance, catch a common cold or flu.

Why is meningitis such a risk to college students? Simply, college students live a close knit lifestyle. They share drinking glasses and utensils. Some dorm building at Southern have three students to one bedroom. Communal showers and bathrooms also increase the risk. Another reason college students are at risk of contracting meningitis is their exposure to smoking.

There are many preventative methods of avoiding bacterial meningitis. Most namely, of course, is getting vaccinated.

In January of this year, The Food and Drug Administration approved a two dose vaccination for bacterial meningitis call Bexsero. The vaccine is meant for individuals from ages 10 to 25. Most colleges require their residence to be vaccinated for a different type of meningitis; meningococcal meningitis.

But college students can take other steps to prevent contracting bacterial meningitis. Meningitis is spread through saliva, so a student could prevent its spreading by washing cups, plates and utensils after every individual use and not sharing them with other students.

When using communal showers, students should always use discretion about dirty showers and wear shower flip flop. Also, students should use discretion about kissing other students.

Most importantly, if a student believes they may be displaying symptoms of bacterial meningitis, they should seek out a doctor immediately. This ensures that the student is not risking an outbreak. Also, timing is everything when it comes to meningitis. The sooner treatment can start, the better.

Photo Credit: Sanofi Pasteur