MI, USA: MSU student's death still a mystery but not believed to be bacterial meningitis - meningococcemia confirmed

[Emily]

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local...till-a-mystery

MSU student's death still a mystery
Carly Glynn, 19, graduated from Rogers High

Updated: Monday, 13 Feb 2012, 6:36 PM EST
Published : Monday, 13 Feb 2012, 5:55 PM EST

By Steve Kelso

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Though the symptoms Carly Glynn presented were consistent with bacterial meningitis, health officials now believe the 19-year-old MSU sophomore died from something else. And what that something else is remains a mystery..

[Pathfinder]

Re: MI, USA: MSU student's death still a mystery but not believed to be bacterial meningitis -

Antibiotics Masked MSU Student's Cause of Death
Carly Glynn was discovered to have meningococcemia.

Jonathan Seely FOX 17 Web Producer
5:09 p.m. EST, February 17, 2012

INGHAM COUNTY, Mich?

The medical examiner from Ingham County has confirmed Carly Glynn the 19-year-old Michigan State University student who died suddenly from a blood disease called meningococcemia.

...Doctors at Spectrum say they suspected Glynn had the illness since her death but couldn't confirm it because of the antibacterial medicine they gave Glynn in an effort to save her was masking the illness.
...
Glynn was said to have the ?type-b? strain of the bacteria illness. Currently there is no vaccine for type-b but medical professionals say we are extremely close to developing one soon.

Full text:
http://www.fox17online.com/news/fox17-further-testing-reveals-msu-students-cause-of-death-20120217,0,6893678.story

[Emily]

Re: MI, USA: MSU student's death still a mystery but not believed to be bacterial meningitis - meningococcemia confirmed

Unfortunately Neisseria meningitidis might have replaced the niche vacated by Haemophilus influenzae type b.

http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/506301

From Medscape
Meningococcemia: A Frightening Diagnosis

An Introduction to Meningococcemia

Meningococcemia is a frightening diagnosis for most healthcare providers. In its most severe forms, it possesses unmistakable characteristics. It is one of the few infections that can leave patients with gruesome morbidities and significant mortality in less than 24 hours after presentation. Despite major medical advances, this disease continues to cause devastating effects to our children.
[snip]
Epidemiology

As a result of the control of Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, Neisseria meningitidis has become the leading cause of meningitis in children and young adults in the United States.[2] Outbreaks were rare in the United States in the 1980s, but since 1991 the frequency of localized outbreaks has increased.[2] From July of 1994 to 1997, 42 meningococcal outbreaks were reported, 4 occurring on college campuses.

Rates for meningococcemia are highest in infants, with another rise in rate during adolescence, peaking in incidence among 15 to 24 year olds. Incidence is estimated at 0.5-5/100,000[3] and 10% to 15% of cases are fatal. Of patients who recover from this infection, 10% to 15% have significant morbidities including permanent hearing loss, mental retardation, and loss of digits or limbs.[1]....

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