Posted by MeningitisAngel at 08/27/09 12:51AM        Post ID#: #10964

Our prayers are with this teen.

Too many infants, teens, kids and young adults are left debilitated or die from this vaccine preventable disease.

What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as, organ failure, blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, severe seizures, brain damage and other disabilities.
You should also understand meningococcemia and sepsis.

Signs and Symptoms
The early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which could improve detection of the disease and save lives are unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin color 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 and impaired consciousness, debilitation or death. Anyone can get meningitis especially infants, children and teens.

What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. The current vaccines are approved for ages (2) years and older. However be informed, there are (5) sero-groups of the disease, all sero-groups are not covered. However the most common in the United States are sero-groups C Y, W135 and A which are.

Infants and toddlers should be vaccinated against pneumococcal and HIB meningitis.
Those children in daycare and those of American Indian, Eskimo and African American heritage are at a higher risk for some forms of meningitis.

There are no vaccines to prevent viral meningitis.

Frankie Milley, Meningitis Angels, Founder/National Director
Visit the AAP, sound Advice on Vaccines: http://www.cispimmunize.org/fam/soundadvice.html

Report Violation

Posted by ChrisR at 08/27/09 06:38AM        Post ID#: #10974

Thank you, Angel...
Now for the parents and teens who could be reading this..You may be asking your selves the simple question of, "How do I gets this disease?"
All it takes is for the child to be hanging out with some friends and one of them has a pop, water or something else such as a food item or beverage..You elbow your friend and say,"Hey can I have a drink or a bite?" Guess what? You could have just been exposed to Meningitis. So simple to catch now days.Another opportunity for exposure? Sleeping in dorm situations such as band camp, college dorm, a sports camp where you are all sleeping and sharing facilities. The risk is so high at there.Please get vaccinated. It is also a stated supplied vaccine if you are 18 or under. Insurances pay for it too.

Report Violation

Posted by ConchRepublic at 08/27/09 08:24AM        Post ID#: #10982

There may be instances of teens who attended the rave without their parents' knowledge and would hesitate getting medical screening/vaccination because this would tip them off. Please take care of yourselves and see a health professional.

Report Violation

Posted by Effendi at 08/27/09 10:29AM        Post ID#: #11000

As one of the promoters for Operation APEX 09, I speak for all of our family when I say that we hope this young man recovers fully. All of our safety procedures were followed and the aide car was summoned immediately when the young man took ill. This person was with a group of friends and his friends did the right thing in seeking help at the first signs of trouble. I am not that familiar with meningitis myself and I appreciate the information posted above to inform people like myself. Our community has been flagged in order to keep an eye out for the kids that were with this attendee and for any such future occurrences. As was pointed out, there are many ways to come in contact with the virus and keeping ourselves informed is an ideal prevention. Thank you for the information.

Effendi/Klubstompers

Report Violation