article on meningitis vaccine

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Is this sumthing a hepper should get?

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Meningitis Shots Urged for College Freshmen

Reporter: ez

Updated: Aug 21 at 06:12PM

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Click for Printer-Friendly Version

DALLAS - Parents of college freshmen have one item to add to their children's

list of back to school needs this year: a shot to prevent bacterial meningitis.

The Centers for Disease Control now recommends a meningitis vaccination for

freshmen who will be living in dormitories.

" This can be a fatal infection, or can even cause permanent disability, " said

Dr. Alan Kaye, a Dallas internist. " It results in a death rate of 10 percent of

all people who are infected, even when they get prompt medical care. "

The vaccine helps to protect against bacterial meningitis, an infection in the

brain covering.

When college freshmen move into dormitories with hundreds of other students in

close proximity, Centers for Disease Control studies indicate their chances of

contracting meningitis are higher than other young people. That is why the

meningitis vaccination is being recommended now.

About 3,000 cases of mengingitis are reported in this country every year. It

normally strikes children and young adults up to the age of 30. Although the

chances of getting it are relatively low, the CDC says the chances go down even

further with a meningitis shot.

When Janet Fafrot read about the CDC recommendation, she immediately took her

daughter to get her shot. is a freshman entering Southern

Methodist University this semester.

" There's such a small chance that anything will happen, but it does help to know

we are protected, " Fafrot said.

Some colleges are even requiring the shot, which has prompted some insurance

companies to add it to their coverage.

" Whenever something becomes a recommendation from the CDC we do try to quickly

review that and determine whether we'd like to cover that, " said Kathy Wallace,

a registered nurse with the Pacificare health maintenance organization.

But the CDC wants to warn students and their parents that even the vaccine does

not totally eliminate the risk of bacterial meningitis -- it just protects

against it.

In the United States, 10 to 13 percent of patients die despite receiving

antibiotics early in the illness. Of those who survive, an additional 10 percent

have severe aftereffects, including mental retardation, hearing loss and loss of

limbs.

In protecting college students, the American College Health Association asks

that college health services take a more proactive role in alerting students

about the dangers of meningitis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

a.. Centers for Disease Control

Bacterial meningitis questions and answers

b.. American College Health Association

Meningococcal disease questions and answers

c.. Pacificare HMO

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

DFW Liver Disease Newsletter

http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up and hurry

off as if nothing has happened. " ---Winston Churchill

[Guest guest]

Is this sumthing a hepper should get?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\

-----

Meningitis Shots Urged for College Freshmen

Reporter: ez

Updated: Aug 21 at 06:12PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click for Printer-Friendly Version

DALLAS - Parents of college freshmen have one item to add to their children's

list of back to school needs this year: a shot to prevent bacterial meningitis.

The Centers for Disease Control now recommends a meningitis vaccination for

freshmen who will be living in dormitories.

" This can be a fatal infection, or can even cause permanent disability, " said

Dr. Alan Kaye, a Dallas internist. " It results in a death rate of 10 percent of

all people who are infected, even when they get prompt medical care. "

The vaccine helps to protect against bacterial meningitis, an infection in the

brain covering.

When college freshmen move into dormitories with hundreds of other students in

close proximity, Centers for Disease Control studies indicate their chances of

contracting meningitis are higher than other young people. That is why the

meningitis vaccination is being recommended now.

About 3,000 cases of mengingitis are reported in this country every year. It

normally strikes children and young adults up to the age of 30. Although the

chances of getting it are relatively low, the CDC says the chances go down even

further with a meningitis shot.

When Janet Fafrot read about the CDC recommendation, she immediately took her

daughter to get her shot. is a freshman entering Southern

Methodist University this semester.

" There's such a small chance that anything will happen, but it does help to know

we are protected, " Fafrot said.

Some colleges are even requiring the shot, which has prompted some insurance

companies to add it to their coverage.

" Whenever something becomes a recommendation from the CDC we do try to quickly

review that and determine whether we'd like to cover that, " said Kathy Wallace,

a registered nurse with the Pacificare health maintenance organization.

But the CDC wants to warn students and their parents that even the vaccine does

not totally eliminate the risk of bacterial meningitis -- it just protects

against it.

In the United States, 10 to 13 percent of patients die despite receiving

antibiotics early in the illness. Of those who survive, an additional 10 percent

have severe aftereffects, including mental retardation, hearing loss and loss of

limbs.

In protecting college students, the American College Health Association asks

that college health services take a more proactive role in alerting students

about the dangers of meningitis.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

a.. Centers for Disease Control

Bacterial meningitis questions and answers

b.. American College Health Association

Meningococcal disease questions and answers

c.. Pacificare HMO

Alley/Pat

alleypat@...

DFW Liver Disease Newsletter

http://community.dallasnews.com/dmn/dfwliver

Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most pick themselves up and hurry

off as if nothing has happened. " ---Winston Churchill