<p>This is sad. My D has had the vacine, but it only prevents 2 of the 3 most common strains. I plan to remind my D not to share cups, utensils, cans of pop ect.</p>
<p>It's very sad. I wonder if this girl had had the vaccine. I'm surprised that there are still so many families that don't insist that their kids be vaccinated.</p>
<p>And be aware that the vaccine is now approved for much younger people than it was. Until recently, it was given only to people who were 17 or 18 or older. Now it is available for high school (and maybe even younger) students. Run, don't walk, to the telephone and ask your child's pediatrician whether your child is old enough to be vaccinated. </p>
<p>PLEASE DO THIS. It is a horrible way to die and those who survive are often permanently devastated by the illness neurologically.</p>
<p>I remember last summer there was a shortage of the vacine in some areas. A friend of my D had to wait several week to get it at her clinic.</p>
<p>My D received the vaccine this past summer, when she received notice that her college (and all others in Massachusetts, I believe) required it. Unfortunately, shortly after she received hers, there was a shortage of the supply of vaccine, so the university waived the requirement for students who had not yet gotten it, as it was impossible for them to comply with the requirement before freshman registration. </p>
<p>Grace's advice is good. It's best not to wait till the summer before college when there may be a run on the vaccine because of college students trying to comply with requirements.</p>
<p>Our college health service gives this advice:
[quote]
A partially effective vaccine is available to students who request it at a cost of approximately $70; most medical plans, however, will not cover this kind of preventative treatment. Over half of these cases reported in the Pacific Northwest are caused by a strain that is resistant to the vaccine. Although the college is not recommending widespread use of the vaccine at this time, students are encouraged to discuss this option with family and health care providers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Bacterial meningitis strikes approx. 1 in 100,000, and perhaps 20% of those die. The vaccine, which is "partially effective" might reduce the death toll, but at the cost of increased risk from the vaccine.</p>
<p>Our family doctor advised against the vaccine, and suggested that healthy lifestyle would be far more protective.</p>
<p>Be aware that the vaccine does not prevent all strains of Meningitis. My S goes to school in Oregon, and the most common strain in the Pacific Northwest is not prevented by the vaccine.</p>
<p>"Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and the brain. Symptoms include severe headache, fever, nausea, stiff neck, and sometimes a rash."</p>
<p>Unfortunately these symtoms are not uncommon with other illness such as the flu. It is hard to know when to visit the clinic.</p>
<p>"Be aware that the vaccine does not prevent all strains of Meningitis."</p>
<p>This is also sad: </p>
<p>MA requires the vaccine but last year it did take a LOT of work for me to find it and my health insurance wouldn't pay for it.</p>
<p>It's one of natures "wonders" that practically every disease presents itself as being "flu-like."</p>
<p>If you're a student in a dorm and you get even close to being "flu-like" when you're sick, it's always a good idea to hit up the clinic and ask to be tested for meningitis.</p>
<p>besides meningitis, there is hep, mono and all kinds of other lovely illnesses
meningitis actually is more difficult to catch than some other illnesses which live much longer on surfaces</p>
<p>ebee, fyi, MA "requires" the vaccine, but you can opt out if you decide the risk is greater than the benefit:
[quote]
3) the student, or the student’s parents or guardian, if the student is a
minor, signs a waiver developed or approved by the Department of
Public Health stating that the student has received information about
the risks and dangers of meningococcal disease, has reviewed the
information provided and has elected to decline the vaccine.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The fact that most (not all) state health depts. DO allow parents to waive the vaccination requirement is a well-kept secret in some districts.</p>
<p>
[quote]
mono and all kinds of other lovely illnesses
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I had mono for almost a week and a half before the doctors finally diagnosed it. Let me tell you...mono is not fun. At all.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I had mono for almost a week and a half before the doctors finally diagnosed it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yeah, bummer. But that wasn't necessarily incompetence. Mono apparently doesn't culture well till it's really well established -- about a week to ten days from when you get sick.</p>
<p>Oh, believe me, incompetence didn't even cross my mind. More like, "Why me? Why did I have to have gooey tonsils for a month? Argh."</p>
<p>And I've had the same girlfriend for 7 years! I didn't even get it from a kiss! :p</p>
<p>Yet another reason to never work retail.</p>
<p>I remember that when I was about 14, my doctor looked me in the eyes and made a big thing of telling me that I should always take a stiff neck very seriously and get to a doctor or hospital to get it checked. Then she told me they had been trying to save a girl with meningitis but they got started too late and the disease just overwhelmed everything my doctor's team tried. That experience made a big impression on me.</p>
<p>Parents, as a memorial to that girl, make sure your kids know about meningitis (prevention, symptoms, course of illness, and outcomes).</p>
<p>My best friend in elementary school almost died from bacterial meningitis. A few years ago our very good friend (father of two), was recovering from the flu, took a turn for the worse, and died of meningitis just days before Christmas. He was in excellent shape, but had had part of his spleen removed years earlier after an accident, and wasn't able to fight off the infection. </p>
<p>We also take the risk of meningitis very seriously. My friend in grade school started feeling ill during our last class for the day, and by early evening she was very near death. Although both of our sons have been vaccinated, we still worry about the risk of a meningitis infection, especially now that our oldest is away at school. </p>
<p>I'm very glad you brought this subject up GolfingMom.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you're a student in a dorm and you get even close to being "flu-like" when you're sick, it's always a good idea to hit up the clinic and ask to be tested for meningitis.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sure, if you like multiple needles to get stuck into your spinal column a lot :)</p>
<p>You really can't go get a lumbar puncture every time you get the flu. However, I would advise you to go if you have a stiff neck (like, so stiff that if you lay down on a hard surface and can't touch your chin to your chest because of the pain - not just the generalized stiffness and soreness that we all get from the flu) in addition to either vomiting or a rash.</p>
<p>Hmm...you're right and I phrased that horribly.</p>
<p>It's a good idea to go to the doctor and BRING UP meningitis. Not get tested. Lumbar punctures should only be for probable cases. That was my mistake.</p>