Mayo Clinic Minute: What new college students should know about bacterial meningitis
As students head off to college, shut quarters in new areas might put them in danger for contagious diseases, together with bacterial meningitis. Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine doctor, explains the widespread methods meningitis spreads and one of the simplest ways to forestall an an infection.
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Meningitis is a situation that inflames the membranes across the mind and spinal twine. While there are a number of types of meningitis, an an infection attributable to micro organism is taken into account probably the most extreme type, and should result in seizures, imaginative and prescient loss or loss of life if not handled shortly.
“Meningitis often presents with symptoms such as fever, a stiff neck, headache, maybe even mental status changes, and sometimes even a very distinct rash on the skin,” says Dr. Ardon.
Bacterial meningitis, also called meningitis B, can unfold by sneezing or kissing, and sharing straws or drinks, amongst different methods. Dr. Ardon says college students are a bunch at greater threat for contracting meningitis attributable to their dwelling circumstances.
“They’re in a dormitory, in residence halls, spending a lot of time together in close quarters,” says Dr. Ardon.
Preventing meningitis begins with two rounds of booster shots: one round 11 or 12 years outdated, and one other at 16.
“At college age, we have the opportunity to potentially boost the dose if it’s been some time and also offer another vaccine that protects against meningitis B,” says Dr. Ardon.
