Thousands Take Antibiotics Following Ohio Meningitis Outbreak
Thousands Take Antibiotics Following Ohio Meningitis Outbreak
June 4, 2001 (Washington) -- Two Ohio teenagers have died after being infected with meningitis, an infection that attacks the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. A third patient, Christin Van Camp, is recovering from the disease at Akron's Children's Hospital, where she may soon be off life support.
"It can be all the way from mild disease to explosive and fulminate, fatal within hours," says Blaise Congeni, MD, director of infectious disease at the Akron facility.
Meanwhile, some 10,000 people in the surrounding area are getting drugs or vaccinations to prevent the spread of this bacterial strain called Neisseria meningitides, which causes the illness.
"Those with close contacts are being treated with antibiotics, and a decision is being made on whether or not to immunize the children in the area," Congeni tells WebMD. It's believed the two youngsters who died may have contracted the illness by sharing the same water bottle at a high school picnic last month. Tests showed they both had the same type of meningitis.
Congeni says antibiotics are effective, but people could still get the infection after ending the treatment.
It's estimated about 5% of all people have meningitis bugs in their bodies, and it's a big mystery why most of them never become ill.
Most cases of bacterial meningitis are isolated, but CDC spokesman Tom Skinner says outbreaks involving several cases, like the one in Ohio, occur three or four times a year. In case there is an outbreak in your child's school, keep an eye on your youngster to make sure he or she doesn't develop the telltale symptoms. If so, seek medical advice.
The symptoms include high fever, headache, and stiff neck. In later stages, the infection can lead to seizures. Meningitis can either be a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis is transmitted by an exchange of secretions -- by coughing or kissing, for instance. However, long-term exposure to someone with meningitis in a household or a day care center could also put you at risk.
According to the CDC, the Neisseria meningitidis type infects about 3,000 Americans annually. The death rate is about 15%, Skinner tells WebMD. Among the survivors, 10% have severe after-effects like mental retardation.
Thousands Take Antibiotics Following Ohio Meningitis Outbreak
June 4, 2001 (Washington) -- Two Ohio teenagers have died after being infected with meningitis, an infection that attacks the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. A third patient, Christin Van Camp, is recovering from the disease at Akron's Children's Hospital, where she may soon be off life support.
"It can be all the way from mild disease to explosive and fulminate, fatal within hours," says Blaise Congeni, MD, director of infectious disease at the Akron facility.
Meanwhile, some 10,000 people in the surrounding area are getting drugs or vaccinations to prevent the spread of this bacterial strain called Neisseria meningitides, which causes the illness.
"Those with close contacts are being treated with antibiotics, and a decision is being made on whether or not to immunize the children in the area," Congeni tells WebMD. It's believed the two youngsters who died may have contracted the illness by sharing the same water bottle at a high school picnic last month. Tests showed they both had the same type of meningitis.
Congeni says antibiotics are effective, but people could still get the infection after ending the treatment.
It's estimated about 5% of all people have meningitis bugs in their bodies, and it's a big mystery why most of them never become ill.
Most cases of bacterial meningitis are isolated, but CDC spokesman Tom Skinner says outbreaks involving several cases, like the one in Ohio, occur three or four times a year. In case there is an outbreak in your child's school, keep an eye on your youngster to make sure he or she doesn't develop the telltale symptoms. If so, seek medical advice.
The symptoms include high fever, headache, and stiff neck. In later stages, the infection can lead to seizures. Meningitis can either be a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial meningitis is transmitted by an exchange of secretions -- by coughing or kissing, for instance. However, long-term exposure to someone with meningitis in a household or a day care center could also put you at risk.
According to the CDC, the Neisseria meningitidis type infects about 3,000 Americans annually. The death rate is about 15%, Skinner tells WebMD. Among the survivors, 10% have severe after-effects like mental retardation.
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