<p>A sophomore girl at my son’s college was hospitalized on Saturday with a critical illness and passed away early this morning. </p>
<p>The school posted information and sent e-mails as a general public health notice to all members of the University community as the girl was confirmed to have contracted meningococcal meningitis. Meningococcal meningitis is a serious disease that affects children and young adults. Meningococcal bacteria are spread only through close, prolonged contact with a person who is infected or who is a carrier. Close and/or intimate contact with an infected individual does call for preventative measures. People who have had intimate or close direct exposure to a person with meningococcal meningitis should receive prophylactic medication. </p>
<p>Casual contact (eating in the same dining hall, attending classes together) does not pose a risk and most infectious disease experts do not recommend treatment for people with casual or random exposure. The bacteria are not transmitted by food handlers or through food. Meningococcal bacteria usually cannot live outside the body for more than a few minutes; people cannot be infected by being in a room where an infected individual has been.</p>
<p>Aren’t most colleges requiring the meningitis vaccine now? Both my kids (still in HS) got it at their last annual check-up. Their pediatrician said it is standard operating procedure to do so before kids leave HS. Maybe that’s his office’s policy, but I thought it was a more widespread requirement.</p>
<p>I agree with CountingDown’s impression. Frankly, it is irresponsible for any parent to send their child to college without the vaccine in this day and age.</p>
<p>The onset is often so swift and death can result very quickly. It starts with severe cold and flu-like symptoms, and is often ignored or backburnered as just feeling lousy. By the time a diagnosis is made, it is often too late.</p>
<p>Just after my son entered college (fall '02), my wife and I sat through a most alarming documentary on PBS on the effects and cited cases of this problem within the British university system. It scared the hell out of us.</p>
<p>If son hadn’t already had the mandated vaccination, we’d have picked him up that evening and made sure he did.</p>
<p>Parents, please do not hesitate in insisting on the vaccination. It is mandated by law at many state educational institutions, as well as many privates.</p>
<p>That is so sad. Our daughter got the vaccine at her yearly checkup in the
11th grade. I think it is a requirement here but there is usually an opt out for personal or religious reasons.</p>
<p>Just a reminder that the meningitis vaccine does not protect against all strains of the disease. Our pediatrician made very sure my girls understood this, telling them how necessary it was to be seen in the infirmary/ER if they developed symptoms, even though they have been immunized.</p>
<p>I am so very sorry to hear about this loss.</p>
<p>Correct. It’s now a entry requirement for most colleges (but some may opt out), but considered about 90% effective. I’m sure they’re recommending the prophylactic antibiotics for <directly> exposed individuals whether or not they’ve been vaccinated.</directly></p>
<p>I didn’t realize that the effectiveness rate is 90%…good to know so kids know to pay attention to the symptoms. </p>
<p>Our ped said different colleges require different vaccinations – when DS knows where he’s heading to school, we’ll take him in for whatever else the school requires and the doc recommends. In others’ experience, did you find out about health forms at orientation or did they come sooner than that?</p>
<p>Our daughter’s health forms were due the end of June. When she went to get the forms filled out (they were using her winter sports physical as the basis), the pediatrician’s office saw she was due for another PPD test, so her forms went in a week late.</p>
<p>Because the effectiveness rate is 90% and it doesn’t cover all strains, some kids try to talk their way out of getting it. So stand firm, as we did.</p>
<p>Vaccine compliance and documentation are required to register…the school did have this.
**
One would not know if she registered religious objection or contraindication.
**</p>
<p>Immunizations are available at the student health service…I know this vaccine is pricey and for some students cost might be of concern. They can show up on campus and have it administered.</p>
<p>The forms were sent soon after son accepted a place at the school, and were due back in early summer. A lot of vaccinations were required, including this one. (private university).</p>
<p>I knew I remembered reading a story about this recently, and was able to find it. There’s an interactive map that shows which states require it - only 20 do. Both my daughters chose to attend schools in states that require it, so there was no wiggle room for them to get out of it. Our health insurance paid 100% of the cost (well, minus $25 co-pay for the office visit).</p>
<p>Please vaccinate your children against meningitis.</p>
<p>There is a newer vaccine that protects a child longer, so if your high schooler is in a boarding school, or goes to a several week summer program, consider having him vaccinated before then.</p>
<p>The newer vaccine protects against more strains and lasts longer. It is not 100%, but it is 90+% and that is better than no vaccine. Get your kids vaccinated.</p>
<p>Since it’s front-page news here, I don’t think it’s a breach of anyone’s privacy to say that this was a Penn student who had just come back to start her sophomore year. I hope it’s being publicized wherever she was before last week as well.</p>