MECOSTA CO. -- A Mecosta County teenager is on life support battling bacterial meningitis.
The 9th grader at Chippewa Hills High School in Remus was not in school Friday. The District Health Department #10, which covers Mecosta County sent the high school a letter to alert parents of the health concern. That letter can be viewed HERE.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. People sometimes refer to it as spinal meningitis. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection.
Bacteria meningitis is spread via close contact involving an exchange of saliva, and is not foodborne or spread by casual contact.
Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. Frequent hand washing with soap and water or use of alcohol-based hand rubs or gels is the best way to prevent it.
High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days.
Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. In newborns and small infants, the classic symptoms of fever, headache, and neck stiffness may be absent or difficult to detect. Infants with meningitis may appear slow or inactive, have vomiting, be irritable, or be feeding poorly. As the disease progresses, patients of any age may have seizures.
A Farwell teenager died of bacterial meningitis in May, 2010. Matthew Meyers, 14, died from the illness about a week after being diagnosed.
You can find out more on bacterial meningitis on the Center for Disease Control's website by CLICKING HERE. Additional information can be found on THIS LINK.
