Weyman: Vaccine an option to battle bacterial meningitis

Local News

August 4, 2010

By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer Commonwealth Journal The Commonwealth Journal Wed Aug 04, 2010, 07:00 AM EDT

Somerset —

The Lake Cumberland District Health Depart-ment is urging parents to consider allowing their preteens and teenagers to receive vaccines which fight meningitis. LCDHD Medical Dir-ector Dr. Christine Wey-man says two cases of bacterial meningitis have been confirmed in Pulaski County this summer. Bacterial meningitis is a more severe strain of the meningococcal meningitis illness — yet it’s very preventable, Weyman says. “If people will get the vaccine, we can prevent all this stuff,” she said. The vaccine is covered by private insurance companies — and children who don’t have insurance can obtain it at the health department for a nominal fee. Cases of viral meningitis are quite common and much less severe. Weyman says several cases of viral meningitis have spread throughout the county recently. “You tend to see more of it in the summer,” she said. “There have been cases, but it’s not necessarily an outbreak.” The bacterial form of the illness can be spread from direct contact — such as kissing, coughing, or sharing drinks. Weyman says those who contract viral meningitis, which is spread through fecal contamination, can make full recoveries following the illness. Individuals who contract bacterial meningitis, however, can die from the illness — or suffer from severe after-effects. Weyman says one person was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis in June. Another individual, an older person, is currently hospitalized with the illness, Weyman reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines meningitis as “a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.” Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, and a stiff neck. The symptoms can develop over several hours or in one to two days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. Infants with meningitis may appear slow or inactive, have vomiting, be irritable, or be feeding poorly.

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