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Meningococcal disease, commonly called
meningitis, is a serious bacterial infection
that can cause death or disability within
hours of its first symptoms. While
children don’t get meningitis simply
from attending camp, certain factors often
associated with camp, such as communal
living or sharing of personal items (e.g.,
water bottles and drinking glasses), may
put certain campers at increased risk of
infection.
The American Camp Association (ACA) supports
the National
Meningitis Association (NMA) in
developing resources for camps to help
educate camp counselors and staff about
meningitis and prevention, as well as to
help recognize its symptoms to ensure the
health and safety of the camp community.
What is Meningococcal Meningitis?
Meningococcal [Pronounced: MEN-IN-JOE-KOK-UL]
meningitis is a bacterial infection that
causes swelling of the tissues around
the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis,
or causes blood poisoning, called meningococcemia
[Pronounced: MEN-IN-JOE-KOK-SEE-ME-A]. It
is the most common cause of bacterial
meningitis in the U.S. among toddlers,
adolescents, and young adults and strikes
nearly 3,000 Americans each year.
The disease is spread from person-to-person
through air droplets and close contact,
such as coughing, kissing and sharing utensils
or water bottles. Early symptoms
of meningitis are very similar to the flu
or a cold, so the disease is difficult
to accurately and quickly diagnose. First
symptoms may include headache, fever, nausea,
vomiting, stiff neck, and confusion. After
the disease progresses a purplish rash
may appear.
The good news is that the majority of
meningitis cases (up to 83%) may potentially
be prevented through immunization. The
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
recommends vaccination for pre-teens aged
11-12 years to help prevent meningitis.
For those not previously vaccinated, health
officials recommend receiving the vaccine
before entering high school (about age
15) or for college-bound freshmen, if planning
to live in dormitories. In addition, New
York State requires overnight camps to
provide information to prospective campers
and their parents about meningococcal meningitis
and prevention. |
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