Cases of Menengitis where we live, help.

[kakies]

DD1 is 2 1/2yo and dd2 is 5mo. DD1 got a couple of vax's at the begining but dd2 has not been vaxed. There has been a menengitis break out down here and we want to avoid getting it (of course). Does anyone know were I can find information on menengitis. How do I protect them better... what should we avoid doing? What should we look out for? etc, etc.

[Tracy]

which menagitits? Viral?
can you send us a media link?

[gilnikche]

Here is an article about the Meningitis "outbreak"


Cases of viral meningitis take seasonal upswing

By Nancy McVicar
Health Writer
Posted July 9 2004

Viral meningitis has been sending Broward County children and adults to their doctor's offices and emergency rooms -- just as happened this spring in Palm Beach County -- but the disease is not life-threatening, health officials said Thursday.

"Normally between May and September we see cases, mostly due to entero viruses, some years a little bit more than others," said Dr. Jose R. Mateo, pediatric infectious disease specialist who practices in north Broward and Palm Beach counties. "This year it is more than previous years, but it's not unexpected, not something completely out of the ordinary."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...sfla-news-palm

and here is more detailed info...


http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t083700.asp

[thepeach80]

There's absolutely no treatment for viral meningitis and really nothing to be afraid of. It's just like any other virus kids get and has to run it's course. My son had it at 4 mos. He did have to stay in the hospital, but that was b/c they thought he had RSV as well and it takes 72 hours for them to rule out bacterial meningitis (so they give antibiotics just in case). Even bacterial meningitis when caught early is treated well w/ antibiotics, you just need to know the signs, stiff neck, headaches, extreme irritability in inafants...

[Sasha_girl]

I'll need to wade through my information to find out the specifics, but there are several different strains of viral meningitis (six, maybe?) and the vaccine "protects" against 3. As for how to protect against meningitis itself, I'm unsure. I think the most important thing is to recognize symptoms and get immediate medical attention.

[rcgtor]

The vaccine offers no protection from viral meningitis; it's meant to protect from some strains of bacterial meningitis.

I think the best way to prevent any kind of viral illness is to pump up your immune system...no sugar or processed foods, take probiotics, some fish oil (no cod liver oil for those of us in S. Florida...too much sun), some sun every day, good sleeping habits. If they come down with some virus, vitamin C is great.

Marcy

[DesireeH]

When I was in middle school, a girl in my circle of friends died from meningitis. She was also anorexic and a smoker so her immune system was way down. We were all around her, some of the girls shared soda with her, etc and no one else got it. Just keep their immune systems boosted. No junk food, fruits/veggies rich in vitamins, probiotics, etc etc.

[Sasha_girl]

Originally Posted by rcgtor

The vaccine offers no protection from viral meningitis; it's meant to protect from some strains of bacterial meningitis.

Thanks for correcting me! For some reason I have a mental block against keeping viral and bacterial meningitis straight.

[Tracy]

Carla can we archive this thread?

I'm just adding a few more things to this thread..because we get this question a lot and I wanted to bump up this thread.



there are various meningitis-es

A couple have vaccines but I think most do not...

The most common causes of meningitis are viral infections that usually resolve without treatment. However, bacterial infections of the meninges are extremely serious illnesses, and may result in death or brain damage even if treated. Meningitis is also caused by fungi, chemical irritation or drug allergies, and tumors.

Types include:

meningitis - cryptococcal
syphilitic aseptic meningitis
meningitis - H. influenza
meningitis - meningococcal
meningitis - pneumococcal
meningitis - staphylococcal
meningitis - tuberculous
aseptic meningitis
meningitis gram negative
carcinomatous meningitis (meningitis due to cancer)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000680.htm

[Tracy]

just for clarification.

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5330a6.htm

Lets look at the reported cases of haemophilus influenzae invasive disease for the year 2003.

under the age of 5, there were

32 cases of serotype b
117 non serotype b
227 unknown serotype

in the entire united states. The entire population of the united states is 270 million. approximately 24 million are under the age of 5.

[applejuice]

I had symptoms that suggested meningitis seventeen years ago. I was very tired with a compromised immune system.

I had a terrible headache, stiff neck, and a very high fever. My hair fell out and I was very weak. I lost lots of weight. The main illness lasted six days; it took many weeks to regain my strength. I never sought medical attention for it.

My DH's favorite Aunt told me she had the same symptoms years ago when her DH, my DH's favorite Uncle was stationed in Munich, Germany.

She told me she was in a huge, crowded ward of sick people when she first went in. She was very weak and sick, and told them her symptoms and she was afraid that she really did have something very contagious.

After twenty-four hours, they gave her a spinal tap which verified the fact that she had meningitis.

She was immediately put into isolation, in a large room with on one else in it.

Later, she felt better and checked out before they could give her another spinal tap.

She lived for a very long time after that, and never again had a spinal tap.