Freshman Vaccination:
Bacterial Meningitis
- Most parents know they have to vaccinate their little ones before
they send them off to school; research suggests their big ones should
be vaccinated as well.
College students are at an increased risk for bacterial meningitis, a
potentially fatal disease that will affect an estimated 3,000 people each
year, most under the age of 20. Meningitis is seen more frequently in
college freshman or other students who live in close quarters, such as in
a dormitory. Students who are heavy drinkers and smokers, or are
chronically sleep deprived or recovering from an illness, are also at risk
because their immune systems are compromised.
Despite antibiotic treatment, 10 to 13 percent of those who develop an
infection will die from the disease. Of the survivors, 10 percent will
suffer long-term disabilities, which may include amputated limbs, hearing
loss or brain damage. The disease is frightening in its speed; symptoms
can progress to life threatening within two days, and sometimes, within a
few hours.
The most common types of meningitis can be prevented. Because of the
increased risk, The Centers for Disease Control recommend that college
freshmen receive the current meningitis vaccine before living on campus.
The American College Health Association and the American Academy of
Pediatrics also endorse the recommendation.
For more information about meningitis vaccinations, call Hasbro
Children's Hospital at 1-800-942-7434. The hospital hosts several
vaccination clinics and programs, and many children and young adults
qualify for vaccines for free or at a reduced cost.
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