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Source: http://www.reflector.com/news/updated-conley-student-contracts-meningitis-20166
Updated: Conley student contracts meningitis
The Daily Reflector
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Pitt County Health Department is investigating a case of bacterial meningitis diagnosed in a D.H. Conley High School student.
The male student was admitted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital earlier today, according to a news release from the Pitt County school system.
Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted through close personal contact with an infected person, typically the exchange of saliva, said Dr. John Morrow, Pitt County public health director.
?It?s a very low risk of it being in a school. The real risk is in sharing saliva,? Morrow said. ?Just being in school, in a classroom with someone, or being in a car with someone, your risk is not significant,? Morrow said.
Although it is a very rare disease, it can lead to a very serious illness.
Health officials are working with the student?s family and school to identify people who had recent close personal contact with the student. These individuals are being notified and prescribed antibiotics to prevent additional cases, school system spokeswoman Heather Mayo said.
So far no one in the boy?s family or his close friends are exhibiting symptoms, Morrow said.
?Most of the cases are sporadic, a lot of people will carry this germ in their nasal cavity without becoming ill so the transmission of it from person to person is really rare,? Morrow said.
Because grading period exams are under way, most students will be out of school for the rest of the week, Mayo said.
Typical symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache, stiff neck and possibly vomiting. Children with these symptoms should be taken to a physician for evaluation, officials said.
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious illness, the news release said.
People can carry the bacteria that causes meningitis without becoming sick. However, they can pass it to others who may be more susceptible to becoming ill.
Good hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water, helps to prevent infections from being transmitted.
For more information, contact Pitt County Health Department at (252) 902-2305.
Additional information on bacterial meningitis can be found at www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.
Updated: Conley student contracts meningitis
The Daily Reflector
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The Pitt County Health Department is investigating a case of bacterial meningitis diagnosed in a D.H. Conley High School student.
The male student was admitted to Pitt County Memorial Hospital earlier today, according to a news release from the Pitt County school system.
Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted through close personal contact with an infected person, typically the exchange of saliva, said Dr. John Morrow, Pitt County public health director.
?It?s a very low risk of it being in a school. The real risk is in sharing saliva,? Morrow said. ?Just being in school, in a classroom with someone, or being in a car with someone, your risk is not significant,? Morrow said.
Although it is a very rare disease, it can lead to a very serious illness.
Health officials are working with the student?s family and school to identify people who had recent close personal contact with the student. These individuals are being notified and prescribed antibiotics to prevent additional cases, school system spokeswoman Heather Mayo said.
So far no one in the boy?s family or his close friends are exhibiting symptoms, Morrow said.
?Most of the cases are sporadic, a lot of people will carry this germ in their nasal cavity without becoming ill so the transmission of it from person to person is really rare,? Morrow said.
Because grading period exams are under way, most students will be out of school for the rest of the week, Mayo said.
Typical symptoms of meningitis are fever, headache, stiff neck and possibly vomiting. Children with these symptoms should be taken to a physician for evaluation, officials said.
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent serious illness, the news release said.
People can carry the bacteria that causes meningitis without becoming sick. However, they can pass it to others who may be more susceptible to becoming ill.
Good hygiene, including washing hands with soap and water, helps to prevent infections from being transmitted.
For more information, contact Pitt County Health Department at (252) 902-2305.
Additional information on bacterial meningitis can be found at www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html.