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By Ellie Rodgers, Contributing Writer
College students preparing to settle into dorm life this fall probably don't have getting a meningitis vaccination on their "to do" list. Yet health officials say the vaccine is a must.
Bacterial meningitis affects about 2,500 Americans each year. As many as 10 to 15 percent of them die from the disease. Those who survive may have brain or kidney damage, hearing loss, or lose an arm or leg.
College freshmen living in dormitories are up to six times more likely to get bacterial meningitis than other people, research shows.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a college lifestyle raises the risk for meningitis. Living in crowded dorms makes it easier to spread bacteria. Poor sleep, smoking and spending time in crowded bars add to the risk.
Meningitis is spread through air by coughing or sneezing. You can also get it from contact with someone who is infected. Such contact includes:
- Kissing
- Sharing cigarettes
- Sharing lip balm, eating utensils, drinks or anything that touches the mouth
The CDC recommends that meningococcal vaccine be given to all children between the ages of 11 and 18. If your child did not get the meningitis vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12, make an appointment to get the shot now. Some high-risk children between the ages of 2 and 10 should also get the vaccine.
It's also recommended for:
- Freshman college students who will be living in dorms
- Military recruits
- Those who have a damaged spleen or had it removed
- Those with certain immune disorders
- Scientists who may be exposed to the bacteria through work
- People who travel to countries where the disease is common
May feel like the flu
Meningitis causes inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The disease is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. The viral form is relatively mild, with fever and headache. Bacterial meningitis, if left untreated, can cause death within days.
At first, bacterial meningitis may feel like the flu or a migraine. It progresses quickly. Symptoms may include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea and vomiting
- Exhaustion
- A rash
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor or student health services right away. Call 9-1-1 if there is confusion or any loss of consciousness.
If you haven't been vaccinated and a roommate or friend gets bacterial meningitis, getting the vaccine right away won't help. It takes about two weeks before it takes effect. If an outbreak happens, antibiotics are given to stop it. Talk with your doctor right away if you think you have been exposed.
How effective is the vaccine?
The vaccine can prevent up to 90 percent of meningococcal meningitis cases in young adults and adolescents. It's effective against four of the five kinds of bacteria that cause the infection. It protects against most of the meningitis that occurs among college-age adults.
A newer vaccine (MCV4) was licensed in 2005 and is expected to protect longer than the three to five years that the older vaccine (MPSV4) did. MCV4 is now the preferred vaccine in ages 2 through 55.
Reactions to the vaccine are usually mild. They may include redness and soreness where the shot is given.
Are your other shots up to date?
Starting college is a good time to check if your other vaccines are up to date. Check to see if you need a tetanus booster, shots for hepatitis B, or a second vaccine for measles-mumps and rubella or chicken pox. Females may also want to consider the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
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This article was reviewed and updated
08-01-2009.
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