Student dies from meningitis even though she was vaccinated

[Crazybean]

for it.

Link http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09064/953351-455.stm

They need to focus on education of signs and symptoms and prevention in colleges IMO. I remember having to either sign the form and get the vax or waive it when I lived on campus. Never once were we told of the major signs to watch for...

[jeliphish]

so sad

[MountainMamaGC]

I know of oh so many babies that catch pneumonia even though they are vaccinated. It bothers me that that parents dont even consider the vaccine failure when taking care of their sick LO.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by Lydiah

I know of oh so many babies that catch pneumonia even though they are vaccinated. It bothers me that that parents dont even consider the vaccine failure when taking care of their sick LO.

But but,,, I thought prevnar was supposed to prevent pneumonia.. and ear infections.

[Th1Th2]

It is not a vaccine failure but a vaccine-induced disease.

[Th1Th2]

Originally Posted by aniT

But but,,, I thought prevnar was supposed to prevent pneumonia.. and ear infections.

What is there to prevent when the physiological evidence of the disease has already been injected to the blood stream? Prevnar can cause otitis media and pneumonia.

ADVERSE REACTIONS
Of the 17,066 subjects who received at least one dose of Prevnar® in the efficacy trial, there were 24 hospitalizations (for 29 diagnoses) within 3 days of a dose from October 1995 through April 1998. Diagnoses were as follows: bronchiolitis (5); congenital anomaly (4); elective procedure, UTI (3 each); acute gastroenteritis, asthma, pneumonia (2 each); aspiration, breath holding, influenza, inguinal hernia repair, otitis media, febrile seizure, viral syndrome, well child/reassurance (1 each). There were 162 visits to the emergency room (for 182 diagnoses) within 3 days of a dose from October 1995 through April 1998. Diagnoses were as follows: febrile illness (20); acute gastroenteritis (19); trauma, URI (16 each); otitis media (15); well child (13); irritable child, viral syndrome (10 each); rash (8); croup, pneumonia (6 each); poisoning/ingestion (5); asthma, bronchiolitis (4 each); febrile seizure, UTI (3 each); thrush, wheezing, breath holding, choking, conjunctivitis, inguinal hernia repair, pharyngitis (2 each); colic, colitis, congestive heart failure, elective procedure, hives, influenza, ingrown toenail, locals welling, roseola, sepsis (1 each).

[anewmama]

Originally Posted by Crazybean

for it.

Link http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09064/953351-455.stm

They need to focus on education of signs and symptoms and prevention in colleges IMO. I remember having to either sign the form and get the vax or waive it when I lived on campus. Never once were we told of the major signs to watch for...

From what I understand, major signs can come on rapidly and the individual can die within a matter of hours. Pre signs look like most any other kind of typical virus.

The problem with this disease off and on is that very early symptoms may be totally nonspecific, like the flu: fever, chills, muscle aches. That can be quite difficult to diagnose,

More extreme symptoms ... would be headaches, stiff neck, altered mental status. They're confused and what's classic for this form of meningitis is a petechial rash. You start seeing little purple spots on the skin or even big areas of purple rash. You see that, you know there's a very serious bacterial infection going on.

What is not clear from this report is the path her illness took. Ie. How fast it came on.

[ttcintexas]

I have read here that meningitis is not in and of itself contagious, that it depends on the individual's body's ability to handle the bacteria/virus. Aren't we all exposed to (and sometimes carriers of) these bacteria/viruses? And getting meningitis is only going to happen if your body for some reason can't handle it? Why then do they always say it can be passed on by close bodily contact? Are they saying the bacteria/virus can be and some of the exposed individuals my have compromised immune systems that do not allow their bodies to deal with it?

[prettypixels]

Originally Posted by Crazybean

for it.

Link http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09064/953351-455.stm

They need to focus on education of signs and symptoms and prevention in colleges IMO. I remember having to either sign the form and get the vax or waive it when I lived on campus. Never once were we told of the major signs to watch for...

Education is definitely important; this girl should've gone to the doctor much sooner. But no vaccine is 100%. This is a huge tragedy.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by ttcintexas

I have read here that meningitis is not in and of itself contagious, that it depends on the individual's body's ability to handle the bacteria/virus. Aren't we all exposed to (and sometimes carriers of) these bacteria/viruses? And getting meningitis is only going to happen if your body for some reason can't handle it? Why then do they always say it can be passed on by close bodily contact? Are they saying the bacteria/virus can be and some of the exposed individuals my have compromised immune systems that do not allow their bodies to deal with it?

Yes that is what they are saying.. you can't catch menengitis. You catch the bacteria/virus that CAN lead to mennegitis. You shoud check out the threads on here on HIB and vaccine induced diseases...there si a huge debate going on about this very thing.

[aniT]

Originally Posted by prettypixels

Education is definitely important; this girl should've gone to the doctor much sooner. But no vaccine is 100%. This is a huge tragedy.

What is a tragedy is they probably didn't tell this girl when she was forced to get the meningitis vaccines that there are other strains out there that are not covered by the vaccine. By receiving the vaccine she increases her chances of getting one of the other strains. I only read part of the link.. (kids) did it say if the strain she had was even VPD?