Meningitis?

I have been sick for past three days, and I feel like I am going to die!

I had the basic “severe” cold symptoms: i.e. headaches, body aches, stiff neck, sore throat, sinus pressure, congestion, vomiting, and etc.

Sick in Bed

I don’t know about you guys, but I can be a hypocondriate – So, I told my husband I feel like I had meningitis.

The symptoms of meningitis are so similar to severe cold – so I always expect the worst.

Alright, I shouldn’t flatter myself – I am not a college student or in my late teens or in twenties, I don’t randomly kiss strangers I meet at parties, or are exposed to young people.

So as a “drama queen,” I told my husband that I was dying, I gave him a blessing to marry another woman after I die (BUT he has to wait a year before remarrying – I want him to mourn me), make sure the “step mom” takes care of children, and etc.

Wow, right?  I did mention I was a “drama queen!”

Of course, my husband started to laugh at my statements, and gave me two Alka-Seltzer Plus capsules along with a bottle of water.

Within few minutes after taking my medicine I fell right asleep on the couch.  The next morning I gave my husband a great hug, thanked him for taking great care of me while I was sick, and took everything back about him getting remarrying.

Haha … what people say when they think they are dying!  Unfortunately, every single time I get sick I tell him that too, and the next morning I usually take it back – my husband is so adorable!!

Alright, back to meningitis.

Meningitis is an “infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain (Meningococcal Disease).”

Bacteria: meningitis

Unfortunately, this bacterial infection discriminate against toddlers, adolescent, and young adults – infection affect about 3,000 Americans and out of that number 10- 12% will die.

Moreover, 20% of meningococcal disease survivors will have permanent disabilities – i.e. brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss or loss of limbs.

Symptoms of meningitis include high fever, stiff neck (anyone over 2 years of age), headaches, nausea, vomiting, can’t look at bright lights without discomfort, confusion, and sleepiness.

These symptoms can develop rather quickly (matter of hours) or develop quite slowly (1 – 2 days) – See, now you can understand why I was freaking out?

Early diagnosis is important, but many do not go see their doctors because it does have similar symptoms as the common cold; however, it is treatable with antibiotics if detected early.

It is important to understand that some form of meningitis bacteria are contagious, and spread through coughing or kissing.  Just check out the CDC website for full description and information on meningitis.

I recently saw a commercial about a new vaccinations against meningitis for teens between ages 11 to 18 called Menactra: Meningococcal (Groups A,C, Y and W-135) Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vacciine.

Menactra

According to Sanofi Pasteur Inc website the vaccine helps protect children against most common meningitis bacterial strains – A, C, Y and W-135, it is a single shot, and CDC recommends the shot.

Of course, it is all up to individual parents to give or not to give such vaccine to their children – as for me, I will give it to my children when they turn requirement age.

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Meningococcal Disease: Frequently Asked Questions.  CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm (1/31/09).