Meningitis case at Virginia Tech

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Source: http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/local...sible_meningitis_case_at_virginia_tech/50095/

Possible meningitis case at Virginia Tech

WSLS News Staff
news@wsls.com
Published: September 26, 2009

Virginia Tech sent out an e-mail to students friday telling them about a possible Meningitis case on campus.
The university says a 19-year-old student has been diagnosed with the infection and is listed in critical condition.
According to a spokesman from the New River Health district? there are no other reported cases in the New River area.
The University?s Health Center is asking that any student with symptoms of Meningitis should report to their primary care physician for further evaluation.

 

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Re: Meningitis case at Virginia Tech

Source: http://www2.wsls.com/sls/lifestyles...s_about_surviving_bacterial_meningitis/52230/
(Click above source to watch the video)

Virginia Tech student talks about surviving bacterial meningitis
By Jarett Henshaw
Published: October 5, 2009

Scott Riley?s doing much better now, but a week ago he was fighting for his life. On September 24th, the Virginia Tech sophomore was very ill and went to the ER at Montgomery Regional Hospital.

?The emergency department Nurse quickly used assessment skills and picked up that he had this strange what?s called a peticial rash developing on his extremities and that is a classic sign of meningitis,? said Infection Preventionist, Mari Beth Cloney.

He had Neisseria Meningitis, one of the most deadly forms of meningitis. Doctors rushed him here to Lewis Gale Hospital and put him on an anti-biotic. When at first normal anti-biotics weren?t working, they tried a drug seldom used on meningitis called xigris and it worked.

?They said I could have lost fingers or something or death possibly,? said Riley.

Riley?s doctor, Dr. David Killeen says that if Riley had waited another day to go to the hospital, he might be dead.

?I do feel lucky but still kind of feel like it hasn?t hit me yet, but ... It showed me I have supportive family, friends,? said Riley.

The meningitis is gone now and riley?s doing much better. Riley?s gotten lots of cards, flowers, and balloons in the last week and he says he?s especially thankful to his parents.

?I love my family. They?ve just here with me by my side ever since I got to Montgomery that morning. My mom?s been spending the night with me and dad?s been here during the day helping out,? said Riley.

He plans on getting out of the hospital Tuesday morning. He?ll go home with his parents to Midlothian for another week, before returning to school at Virginia Tech.