As a school nurse, I know parents do all they can to prepare their kids for the spring semester, which brings new sports seasons and busy schedules. But, when gearing up for the transition, there is one thing parents might be forgetting to protect their children against: potentially fatal meningococcal disease.
While parents may have grades and carpools on the mind, they should know that meningococcal disease is the result of a rare, but serious bacterial infection that can progress very rapidly and take the life of an otherwise healthy person in as little as one day.[i],[2] Symptoms that parents and their teens should
watch out for could include stiff neck, fever, lethargy, sensitivity to light, irritability, headaches and vomiting.
[3]
With school back in session after the holiday break, kids are going to bed later and waking up earlier; the resulting fatigue may raise the risk of meningococcal disease, possibly by weakening the immune system.[4] Common activities such as sharing water bottles and utensils can also facilitate the spread of the disease. [5],[6] As spring sports season approaches, student athletes can be at greater risk of exposure to meningococcal disease, since cramped locker rooms and long bus trips can increase the risk of exposure to the germs. [7],[8]
To help raise awareness about the serious consequences of meningococcal disease and urge parents to take action and vaccinate against the disease, NASN partnered with Sanofi Pasteur on Get in the Game: Keeping Teens Healthy. Get in the Game, a national Campaign that is a part of the Voices of Meningitis educational program and features Olympic swimmer and mom Dara Torres along with meningococcal disease survivors.
As a school nurse, I want parents to know about the serious consequences of meningococcal disease and the importance of vaccination. In addition, teens who have already been vaccinated for meningococcal disease may now need a booster to help protect them during the years when they are at greater risk of infection. The new school semester is an excellent time for parents to have that conversation with their health care provider.
Visit Facebook.com/VoicesofMeningitis to learn more about meningococcal disease and the Get in the Game Campaign.
References
[1]Stephens, D.S.; Greenwood, B., Brandtzaeg, P. (2007). Epidemic meningitis, meningococcaemia, and Neisseria meningitidis. Lancet. 369(9580), 2199.
[2}Pace, D. & Pollard, A. (2012) Meningococcal disease: Clinical presentation and sequelae. Vaccine. 30(S),87.
[3] Pace, D. & Pollard, A. (2012) Meningococcal disease: Clinical presentation and sequelae. Vaccine. 30(S), 83-89.
[4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meningococcal Disease. (2013, April 22). Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/
[5] Stephens, D.S.; Greenwood, B., Brandtzaeg, P. (2007). Epidemic meningitis, meningococcaemia, and Neisseria meningitidis. Lancet. 369(9580), 2199
[6]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Meningococcal Disease. About: Causes and Transmission. (2012, March 15). Retrieved May 7, 2013, from http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/causes-transmission.html
[7] Swanson, JR. (2006, December) Infectious Disease in the Strength and Conditioning Facility. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 28(6), 76-80.
[8] Rachael, T., Schubert, K., Hellenbrand, W. et al. (2009, August) Risk of transmitting meningococcal infection by transient contact on aircraft and other transport. Epidemiology Infection. 137(8), 1057-61.