校园脑膜炎

• Meningitis is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection.
• It can occur in two forms - as either meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation that affects the brain and spinal cord, 或者是脑膜炎球菌病, 细菌血液中细菌的存在.
• The infection can result in permanent brain damage, 听力损失, 学习障碍, 截肢, 肾衰竭或死亡.
• This infectious disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitis, a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in older children and young adults in the U.S.

• 高烧
• 脖子僵硬
• 皮疹
• 嗜睡
• 呕吐
• 恶心想吐
• 严重的头痛
• 对光的敏感度
• Meningitis usually peaks in late winter and early spring, 流感季节重叠, and symptoms can easily be mistaken f或者是 flu.
• 因为感染进展得很快, student should seek medical care immediately if 2 or more of these symptoms occur at one time.
• If untreated, meningitis can lead to shock and death within hours of the first symptoms.

Meningitis can strike at any age; however, certain groups have a greater risk for contracting the disease:

• College students, particularly freshman, who live in campus residence halls.
• Anyone in close contact with a known case.
• Anyone with an upper respiratory infection or a compromised immune system.
• Anyone traveling to endemic areas of the world where meningitis is prevalent.

脑膜炎是如何传播的

• Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through air droplets and direct contact with persons already infected with the disease.
• Direct contact also occurs with shared items, 比如抽烟或喝酒, or through intimate contact such as kissing.

• 有一种安全有效的疫苗.
• The vaccine is 85% to 100% effective in preventing four kinds of bacteria (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) that cause about 70% of disease in the U.S.
• 疫苗是安全的, 有轻微和罕见的副作用, such as redness and pain at the injection site. 这些副作用会持续2天.
• 接种疫苗后, immunity develops within 7 to 10 days and remains effective for approximately 3 to 5 years. 和任何疫苗一样, vaccination against meningitis may not protect 100% of all susceptible individuals.

Is Vaccination Recommended for College 学生s?

• 部分大学生, particularly freshman who live or plan to live in dormitories or residence halls, have a six-fold increased risk of disease.
• The American College Health Association (ACHA) has adopted the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 哪个州的大学生, particularly freshman living in dormitories and residence halls, be educated about meningococcal meningitis and the potential benefits of vaccination.
• Other undergraduate students wishing to reduce their risk of meningitis can also choose to be vaccinated.