Meningitis Watch Continues at Lehigh
University has handed out more 5,000 preventative doses of antibiotic in two days.
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The Lehigh University Health Center will provide preventative doses of antibiotics and evaluate students with symptoms of meningococcal meningitis from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today, according to this update on the health scare on the university’s website.
Two students with confirmed cases of bacterial meningitis remain at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill, and are showing signs of improvement, according to Susan C. Kitei, director of Lehigh’s Health and Wellness Center.
By the end of the day Monday, health staff had administered more than 5,000 doses of preventative antibiotic to members of the university community who were concerned about possible exposure. Clinics were held at Lamberton Hall on Sunday and Monday.
With students about to head home for Thanksgiving, Kitei is advising that they seek immediate medical attention if they believe they are developing symptoms during the brief vacation.
“Common early symptoms include fever, severe sudden headache, lethargy, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and rash. The rash may begin as a flat, red eruption, mainly on the arms and legs,” Kitei wrote.
“We will continue to consult with public health authorities and with infectious disease specialists, and will be closely monitoring the situation,” Kitei wrote.
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St. Luke's Hospital
801 Ostrum St, Bethlehem, PA -
Lehigh University
19 Memorial Dr W, Bethlehem, PA
MeningitisAngel
7:12 am on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Meningitis does not stop at the dorm room door.
My only child,Ryan, died from of meningococcal meningitis. I am the founder/executive director of Meningitis Angels. www.meningitis-angels.org. Early signs of the disease are unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands & feet & abnormal skin color. These can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light & impaired consciousness and death. Each year in this country infants, children, teens & young adults are left seriously debilitated from meningococcal disease. Some with the loss of limbs and their faces. Some are left with severe organ damage, seizure disorder, brain damage, digestive disorders, anemia, blindness, deafness, & more. Some die. According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years, teens age 16, ALL upon college entry should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis.
The 2 current vaccines are approved for ages down to age 2 and 9 months. There are new vaccines on the horizon to protect infants who are at high risk from this deadly disease.
See our national PSA on Infant Meningococcal Disease at http://www.youtube.com/user/MeningitisAngelsPIN?feature=mhee
Pneumococcal and Hib meningitis killed or debilitated thousand and thousands of infants and toddlers before vaccinations. ACIP/CDC Recommends all infants receive vaccine to prevent these deadly forms of meningitis.
Talk to your health care provider.