A pediatrician explains the risks.
Momlogic's Julie: Yesterday, I got an alarming phone call from my kids' school ... a student there has been infected by meningitis. What does this mean? Dr. Cara Natterson fills me in.
"Meningitis is a very serious illness. It means that there is an infection in the meninges -- the fluid filled sack surrounding the brain and spinal cord," she says. "Meningitis can be caused by a virus or a bacteria. In both cases, the person with meningitis will have some combination of fever, nausea or vomiting, stiff neck and an awful headache. Bacterial meningitis is considered the more serious of the two. It is highly contagious and most of the time direct contacts are given prophylactic (preventive) antibiotics. It's always a good idea to ask what type of meningitis the child had (bacterial or viral). And if you have specific concerns about your child, call your own pediatrician to see if there is anything more you need to do."
Has anyone in your kids' school ever had meningitis? Any words of wisdom would be very appreciated!
Connect with Julie in the momlogic community.
Read more from Dr. Cara.
 | Dr. Cara Natterson, a graduate of Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of "Your Toddler: Head To Toe," is a pediatrician and mother of 2. She is working on her forthcoming book, "Dangerous or Safe?" |
| Dr. Cara Natterson, a graduate of Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and author of "Your Toddler: Head To Toe," is a pediatrician and mother of 2. She is working on her forthcoming book, "Dangerous or Safe?" |
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