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Meningitis confirmed at North Schuylkill, but officials say case is non-contagious
BY JOHN E. USALIS (STAFF WRITER jusalis@republicanherald.com)
Published: October 21, 2009
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FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - A case of "possible meningitis" involving a student at North Schuylkill Elementary School has, in fact, been diagnosed as bacterial meningitis, although the case is not contagious, officials said Tuesday.
School officials learned of the possible meningitis case Monday, and in turn sent letters home with the students informing parents of the situation.
The public learned of the possible case during Monday's North Schuylkill school board meeting. Interim Superintendent Dr. Patrick Lukasavich said it was incorrectly reported that the unidentified student was sent home Monday morning from school. Lukasavich said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the student was not in school Monday.
"The symptoms didn't start until Friday evening. It all happened over the weekend," Lukasavich said. "We became aware of it Monday morning."
A second letter was sent home to the parents Tuesday signed by Lukasavich, elementary school nurse Mary J. Shuttlesworth and high school nurse Michelle Smarkanic. One paragraph states: "Today, school officials spoke with Dr. Michael Ryan, chairman of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Dr. Ryan informed the school that while the child does have bacterial meningitis, the lab results warranted treating ONLY the student, not family members and certainly not any school contacts."
The letter quotes Ryan: "This case of meningitis is NOT contagious. The student is being treated with antibiotics, is home, and is doing well."
Secondary Principal Sharon Snyder and Elementary Principal Neall Jones said attendance was normal for the day and parents did not keep their children home as a precaution.
"When parents call that their children will be off, and because of the swine flu, we always make a point of asking for the reason. We had none who said that they were keeping their child home because of the scare of meningitis," Snyder said.
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid and membranes around a person's spinal cord and brain. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection and can be very serious or even deadly.
Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sounds.
Parents with questions are advised to call the Pottsville office of the state Department of Health at 621-3112.
Meningitis confirmed at North Schuylkill, but officials say case is non-contagious
BY JOHN E. USALIS (STAFF WRITER jusalis@republicanherald.com)
Published: October 21, 2009
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
e-mail this e-mail this share this share this
FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - A case of "possible meningitis" involving a student at North Schuylkill Elementary School has, in fact, been diagnosed as bacterial meningitis, although the case is not contagious, officials said Tuesday.
School officials learned of the possible meningitis case Monday, and in turn sent letters home with the students informing parents of the situation.
The public learned of the possible case during Monday's North Schuylkill school board meeting. Interim Superintendent Dr. Patrick Lukasavich said it was incorrectly reported that the unidentified student was sent home Monday morning from school. Lukasavich said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the student was not in school Monday.
"The symptoms didn't start until Friday evening. It all happened over the weekend," Lukasavich said. "We became aware of it Monday morning."
A second letter was sent home to the parents Tuesday signed by Lukasavich, elementary school nurse Mary J. Shuttlesworth and high school nurse Michelle Smarkanic. One paragraph states: "Today, school officials spoke with Dr. Michael Ryan, chairman of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Dr. Ryan informed the school that while the child does have bacterial meningitis, the lab results warranted treating ONLY the student, not family members and certainly not any school contacts."
The letter quotes Ryan: "This case of meningitis is NOT contagious. The student is being treated with antibiotics, is home, and is doing well."
Secondary Principal Sharon Snyder and Elementary Principal Neall Jones said attendance was normal for the day and parents did not keep their children home as a precaution.
"When parents call that their children will be off, and because of the swine flu, we always make a point of asking for the reason. We had none who said that they were keeping their child home because of the scare of meningitis," Snyder said.
Meningitis is an infection of the fluid and membranes around a person's spinal cord and brain. It can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection and can be very serious or even deadly.
Symptoms of meningitis may include fever, headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sounds.
Parents with questions are advised to call the Pottsville office of the state Department of Health at 621-3112.