Student Health Services
Bush Campus Center, Room 150 · (570) 320-5234
Meningitis: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- [Meningitis Home]
- [Facts]
- [What is Meningitis]
- [FAQs]
- [Karen's Story]
- [Meningitis Documentation Form (PDF)]
Q: Why are college students at greater risk?
A: College students have a greater risk of meningococcal infection than the general population because of activities that are often a part of college life, such as smoking, being around someone who smokes (passive smoking), going out to bars, drinking alcohol, and living in a dormitory.
Your child can be at risk because the infection is easily spread through direct contact with oral secretion. Such contact includes coughing, sharing of utensils, or kissing. And of course, even if they live off campus and don’t smoke or drink themselves, all college students are at a greater risk for meningococcal infection because of the close contact they have in classes and activities with other students.
Since the early 1990’s there has been an increase in meningitis outbreaks in the United States. And about one-third of all outbreaks from 1991 to 1996 occurred in schools, universities, or other organizations-based settings. This is why the American College Health Association (ACHA) recommends that students consider vaccination to reduce their risk for potentially fatal meningococcal disease.
Q: How can I tell if my child or I have meningitis?
A: Symptoms of meningitis are similar to those of the flu and are therefore easy to mistake as flu symptoms. Many people with meningitis complain of symptoms such as headache, fever, stiff neck, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light. Some people even develop a purplish-black-red rash on their extremities. Although it is uncommon for all of these symptoms to be present, if your child is experiencing fever and one other symptom, it is possible that he or she may have been infected with meningitis and should seek immediate medical attention.
Q: Will my child need special tests?
A: Yes. A sample of the patient's spinal fluid is tested for the infectious bacteria. This will confirm that the symptoms being experienced by the patient are not just flu symptoms.
Q: How do doctors treat bacterial meningitis?
A: If the test results are positive, antibiotics are normally used as treatment. Remember, with early diagnosis and treatment, recovery rates can be dramatically improved.
A: There’s not much you can do once your child goes to college. But you can help protect your child by getting him or her vaccinated against meningitis. The good news is that today’s meningococcal vaccine protects against the most common forms of bacterial meningitis that cause outbreaks! In addition, ACHA strongly recommends that students entering college be up to date with vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, hepatitis B, and varicella (chickenpox), and receive tuberculosis (TB) screening. Talk to your child’s physician about vaccinating your child before college begins.
Q: Is the meningitis vaccination safe?
A: Yes, the meningitis vaccine is generally safe and effective. However, some reactions (e.g., soreness or redness at the injection site, mild fever) can happen with all vaccines.
In addition, some precautions apply. Some vaccines are not recommended during pregnancy. Some are not safe to use if a person has a compromised immune system or certain health conditions. No vaccine protects 100% of susceptible individuals. For further information please see your physician for prescribing information.