Bacterial Meningitis
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Viral meningitis is most common and the least serious. Bacterial meningitis is the most common form of serious bacterial infection with the potential for serious, long-term complication. It is an uncommon disease, but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent permanent damage or death.
What are the symptoms?
Someone with meningitis will become very ill. The illness may develop over one or two days, but it can also rapidly progress in a matter of hours. Not everyone with meningitis will have the same symptoms. Children (over 1 year-old) and adults with meningitis may have a severe headache, high temperature, vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights, neck stiffness or joint pains, and drowsiness or confusion. In both children and adults, there may be a rash of tiny, red-purple spots. These can occur anywhere on the body. The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is based on a combination of symptoms and laboratory results.
How serious is bacterial meningitis?
If it is diagnosed early and treated promptly, the majority of people make a complete recovery. In some cases it can be fatal or a person may be left with a permanent disability.
How is bacterial meningitis spread?
Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but they do not live for long outside the body. They are spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing; sharing drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes). The germ does not cause meningitis in most people. Instead, most people become carriers of the germ for days, weeks or even months. The bacteria rarely overcome the body’s immune system and causes meningitis or another serious illness.
How can bacterial meningitis be prevented?
Do not share food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes. Limit the number of people you kiss. While there are vaccines for some other strains of bacterial meningitis, they are used only in special circumstances. These include when there is a disease outbreak in a community or for people traveling to a country where there is a high risk of getting the disease. Also, a vaccine is recommended by some groups for college students, particularly freshmen living in dorms or residence halls. The vaccine is safe and effective (85-90%). It can cause mild side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. Immunity develops within 7 to 10 days after the vaccine is given and lasts for up to 5 years.
What you should do if you think you or a friend might have bacterial meningitis?
Seek prompt medical attention.
For more information...
Your school nurse, family doctor, and the staff at your local or regional health department office are excellent sources for information on all communicable diseases. You may also call your local health department or Regional Texas Department of Health Office to ask about meningococcal vaccine. Additional information may also be found at the web sites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov) and the Texas Department of Health (www.tdh.state.tx.us).
Communicable Diseases
Parents of students with a communicable or contagious disease are asked to telephone the school nurse or principal so that other students who have been exposed to the disease can be alerted. Students with certain diseases are not allowed to come to school while they are contagious. These include but are not limited to chickenpox, fever (100 or greater), nits/head lice, Type A viral hepatitis, measles, bacterial and viral meningitis, mumps, pink eye, ringworm, impetigo (that cannot be covered), and mononucleosis. If you have any questions about other communicable diseases, please contact your school nurse.
A student with a chronic reportable disease (Hansen's disease, viral hepatitis Type B, AIDS or HIV infection) shall be allowed to attend school in his/her usual instructional setting with the approval of his/her doctor. The District employee responsible for the school health program shall function as the liaison with the student's doctor and be the coordinator of services provided by other staff.
Only those persons with a direct need to know, such as the principal, school nurse or other person responsible for the school health program, shall be informed of the condition of the student who has a chronic reportable disease other than AIDS or HIV infection.
The only District employees who shall have access to medical records that a student has been tested for and/or has or does not have AIDS or HIV infection are professional personnel who meet both of the following:
- Have received HIV in-service training that complies with Education Code 11.208 (see DMA).
- Have a legitimate need to know in order to provide for their own protection or to provide for the student's health and welfare.