Incoming students face an increased risk for meningitis

Incoming freshman students are at a higher risk for developing meningitis, according to UTC officials.June Matthews, a registered nurse at the student health clinic, said meningitis is a highly contagious, saliva-born infection causing inflamation of the membranes enclosing the brain. The disease can be passed from person to person through sneezing, kissing, coughing, sharing food or even sharing hand towels.

Being away from home for the first time, living in close proximity with other students and not developing a strong immunity to infections puts college freshman at a higher risk for developing meningitis, according to Matthews.

There are two types of meningitis, bacterial and viral, Matthews said. Both infections start with symptoms similar to the flu. The disease progresses rapidly and must be treated right away with antibiotics to prevent serious problems.

"The only way to positively identify and diagnose it is to do a spinal tap," Matthews said.

Although Matthews said the infection is not common on UTC's campus, the Centers for Disease Control reports cases of meningitis among teens and young adults 15 to 24 years of age have more than doubled since 1991.

"It's a horrible, horrible disease that is so easily prevented," Matthews said.

The primary mode of prevention is vaccination, which will infer immunity for a person's lifetime, Matthews said.

The vaccine is available on campus for $100 and reimbursement is provided through most insurance providers, Matthews said.

Other methods of preventing the disease are similar to the precautions a person should take to prevent catching a cold or the flu, Matthews said. Students should refrain from sharing water bottles or food, wash their hands with soap and hot water frequently and be careful not to share bodily fluids with a person who might be sick.

The vaccine is already required in some states but is only recommended in Tennessee, Matthews said.

Currently, UTC's immunization checklist recommends the meningitis vaccine to all students, and the state of Tennessee requires UTC to provide information about the infection and vaccine. Matthews said she believes it will become a mandatory vaccination in the near future.

"In those states where kids have died or ended up permanently disfigured, the meningitis vaccine has become a requirement,"Matthews said. "As soon as that happens [in Tennessee], it will be a requirement here."

Liz Zipperer, a freshman from Nashville, said she supports the vaccine.

"I got the vaccination to protect myself in the case of an emergency," Zipperer said. "It's better to be safe than sorry.

"I don't think people realize how many things they are exposed to being away from home for the first time," she said.

Meningitis symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck and extreme fatigue. It can make the person seriously ill in as little as 24 hours, Matthews said.

Matthews said she advises students to come to the student health center if they experience any symptoms they are not able to resolve themselves like a persistent fever or a stiff neck.

"Untreated, the infection can be fatal or leave the person with devastating disfigurations or permanent disabilities," Matthews said.