Friday, October 26, 2001

Area case urges TCU meningitis awareness
By Aaron Chimbel
Staff Reporter

A University of North Texas student from Fort Worth was hospitalized with meningococcal meningitis Sept. 22, but no cases of the disease have been reported at TCU, TCU Health Center Director John Terrell said this week.

With a case of meningitis in the area, TCU health officials are urging students to be aware of the disease, its symptoms and cures.

Terrell said if any cases of the disease occurred at TCU, people who came in close contacts with an infected person would receive antibiotics. The Tarrant County Public Health Department would also be involved to help with large-scale immunizations, Terrell said.

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), meningococcal meningitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection causing inflammation to the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

UNT sophomore Lydia Evans is in stable condition in an area hospital and is no longer in intensive care after losing both legs and parts of her fingers to the disease said UNT Executive Director of Student Health and Wellness Services Reginald Bond. No other UNT students contracted the disease, he said.

Bond said while no other UNT students have contracted the disease, the 1,072 students that may have come in contact with Evans have taken the antibiotic Cipro.

Students who attended a party the night Evans became ill and those in her classes were encouraged to take the antibiotics, Bond said.

Approximately 900 UNT students received meningitis immunizations last week at a cost of $90 each, he said.

“If we had not (taken a proactive approach) we may have had more cases of meningitis,” Bond said.

A letter sent to new students suggests they get vaccinations from their doctor before coming to TCU, though Terrell encouraged all college students to receive the meningitis vaccination.

The Health Center offers meningitis vaccinations at a cost of $75.

Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and can also be contracted through sharing drinks or cigarettes and kissing, according to the ACHA’s website.

Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headaches, a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, confusion and sleepiness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site. According to the Web site, the disease can progress rapidly and lead to shock and death if not treated immediately.

There are two kinds of meningitis, viral and bacterial.

Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability.

Meningococcal disease strikes about 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for about 300 deaths annually, according to the ACHA Web site.

It is estimated that 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur annually on college campuses and five to 15 students die as a result, according to the CDC Web site.

Aaron Chimbel
a.a.chimbel@student.tcu.edu