I'm panicking and I need actual knowledge, not internet knowledge.

[tzikeh]

Monday evening I was in an eight-person tutor training session. Five minutes ago, I received an email from the tutor center informing me that a woman who attended the same session is in the hospital with meningitis. The hospital does not know yet whether it is viral or bacterial, but they had to inform everyone who has been in contact with her in recent weeks that they were in possible mortal danger (you love to get emails like that, right? I know I do.). Basically, I'm frozen in panic. I won't use Google because at this point I'm not willing to trust anything I read on the internet. The only thing I know for 100% certain about meningitis is that in many cases you can present with no symptoms and be dead several hours later. I don't know how it's transmitted, I don't know what to look for, I don't know the difference between viral or bacterial; I know nothing.

Can someone with real medical knowledge or any kind of experience help me not have a heart attack before the meningitis has a chance to kill me? If you can't reassure me that I'm not going to be dead by this time next week (which you can't), can you tell me what to look for, or what I might do to prepare, or anything at all?

Comments

Damn, first Brad Pitt gets it, now all the cool kids have it!

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

You should go to the doctor ASAP and get it checked out, but it's 99.9% treatable, particularly if it's viral and caught early. It'll present with flu-like symptoms and a VERY high fever.

Re: Damn, first Brad Pitt gets it, now all the cool kids have it!

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

I should clarify that bacterial meningitis is much more dangerous, but it's very unlikely you'd catch it from someone unless you were in close (intimate) proximity with them, or sharing food utensils or something regularly. Viral is more contagious, less dangerous and easily treated.

Re: Damn, first Brad Pitt gets it, now all the cool kids have it!

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I've called my GP and he's finally called me back. ;) I'm watching for any and all symptoms.

Re: Damn, first Brad Pitt gets it, now all the cool kids have it!

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you got a hold of him, that always makes me feel sbetter.

Dont' make yourself crazy watching for symptoms though! At my old job I had a TB test every sick months, and, if you nbever had one, they prick your arm, then you wait 48 hours and they check the prick spot for, uh, something I don't know. Anyway, mine always swelled up the first day and I'd spend two days convinced I had TB.

[katallison.livejournal.com]

Stuff I know from having been through a similar scare (met with student who was in hospital w/meningitis a couple of days later) and talking with my doctor:

--Bacterial meningitis is by far the more dangerous sort. It is contagious, but not easily spread (less contagious than colds or flu, for example). You'd have to have shared bodily fluids, or been, like, sneezed/coughed upon to be at much risk. Just having been in the same room with someone presents little risk.

--The thing to watch out for is fever. If you start developing a fever (and/or neck pain) get to your doctor *immediately.*

Big encouraging hugs to you, and much love.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I've called my GP and he's finally called me back. ;) I'm watching for any and all symptoms. I can't remember if she was coughing or not - I don't remember much through the panicking. ;) I did share an elevator with her, but not a spoon or kissing *g*

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Okay, first of all, it's much more common in children and babies than in adults. That doesn't mean adults *never* get it, but it's not as common. Also, it's not as contagious as something like the flu or a cold or something--it's not an easy thing to catch; casual contact or breathing the same air won't do it--it's got to be *prolonged* contact (over days or weeks at least) or *close* contact (kissing, inhaling a respiratory droplet directly after the infected person coughed). And even if you're exposed that doesn't mean you'll get the disease. Because even if you get an *infection* from the bacteria/virus involved, it's much more likely you'd get a *respiratory* infection. Think of it like strep throat versus getting a streptococcal infection of your heart valves--the latter is much less common, although it's also more severe.

The elderly or people who are immunocompromised (e.g. someone with cancer or HIV) are more likely to get it. College students can have more susceptibility because they are crammed in together in dorms and such and have prolonged and fairly close contact with their peers.

Viral tends to be milder/less serious than bacterial. And there *are* symptoms. Headache, light sensitivity, stiff/sore neck, rash, fever (which gets pretty high, especially with bacterial meningitis). If you get those symptoms, or if you get the high fever and the rash, you need to get yourself to a health care provider. The only times it tends to be asymptomatic and then very serious is with babies.

I think it is pretty unlikely that you're going to develop meningitis, but if you do start getting those symptoms, get yourself checked out to make sure.

*hugs*

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I should say that a fever of any kind should probably at least get you making a phone call. If it's high (over 101.5), get yourself to the ER ASAP.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I've called my GP and he's finally called me back. ;) I'm watching for any and all symptoms. Your info really helps me stay a little calmer.

[lydiabell.livejournal.com]

I don't know much about meningitis, but MedlinePlus is a good site for trustworthy consumer health information.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. Still, the internet is good for some things, but not when DEATH is on the line!

[lydiabell.livejournal.com]

What about when CAKE is on the line?

[nangi-akki.livejournal.com]

hi - alot depends on whether it's bacterial or viral meningitis. viral meningitis cannot be treated (or prevented) with antibiotics. the only treatment is fluids and observation and most patients make a complete recovery within 1-2 weeks.
bacterial meningitis is a bit more complicated. certain strains of bacterial meningitis - N. meningitidis and H. influenzae - are extremely aggressive but even they are not spread by casual contact unless there is direct exposure to respiratory secretions. for bacterial meningitis, household and intimate contacts are usually given preventive antibiotics (rifampin or cipro).

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Does "direct exposure to respiratory secretions" mean "being coughed on"?

[nangi-akki.livejournal.com]

Does "direct exposure to respiratory secretions" mean "being coughed on"?

---it would have to be a *very* wet cough, a kind of "dude, she *spat* on me" kind of cough.

[dubhartach.livejournal.com]

People are told these things so they can be aware that flu like symptoms may need to be taken more seriously. If you developed a fever, headache, neck pain or stiffness, nausea, photophobia (light hurting your eyes) or a rash (the one everyone worries about is dark red/purple, from pinprick to bigger and doesn't go away if you press on it) you should seek medical attention.

However

For bacterial meningitis *close* contacts are given antibiotics. This is partly to treat them to stop them getting it and also to treat them if they were the one who had the bug in the first place, but just haven't got ill.

Close contacts are family. Lovers. Mouth to mouth contacts. Very occasionally, if there are several cases, less close contacts will get the antibiotics too. But only if several cases all in one place.

Classmates, work collegues, the medical staff involved (unless spat on) are NOT at risk. It is not that contagious.

http://www.meningitis.org/ is an excellent site. Go to "about the diseases" then FAQ/am I at risk. They talk about contacts and risk.

Hope that helps

(I'm a doctor in emergency medicine, btw)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Thank you - I've called my GP and he's finally called me back. ;) I'm watching for any and all symptoms. Your info really helps me stay a little calmer.

But - normal rashes *go away if you push on them*? Really?

[zoerayne]

But - normal rashes *go away if you push on them*? Really?

My understanding is that they don't "go away" per se, but you know how pressing on your skin and then letting go leaves a white mark for a few seconds because you're interrupting the blood flow? Most rashes turn white, like the surrounding skin, but some don't -- they stay red (or purple, or whatever).

[mei-x.livejournal.com]

My younger brother had bacterial meningitis in 1996. He started feeling ill on a Monday (throwing up constantly, leading to stiffening joints, extremely low blood pressure, abnormal white blood cell counts -- just a rapidly downward spiral). By the end of the week, he was in the ICU and there was a point where the doctor had even told my mom that my brother had only hours to live. Miraculously (and it truly was), he did get better, and he emerged without any significant lasting damage.

None of us in the household got sick. We did take medicine as a precautionary measure, but none of us became ill. And I think they did alert his high school, because of local health codes. But if I didn't get sick living in the same house with someone who caught bacterial meningitis, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Anecdotal, I know, but that was my experience. I hope for the best for your sick colleague (and that you have no cause for worry).

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Anecdotal is all I have to go on - so this makes me feel much better. Thanks, mei.

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

a) yes, go get it tested soonsoon, but

b) i believe if it were going to kill you quickly, it would have done so already.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I called my GP; he's prescribing something prophylactic (which I wish were as fun as it sounds). Thank you for the advice.

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Nothing to add to the already excellent posts above, except to repeat that meningitis is not highly contagious without close contact (based on what I can recall from a dorm exposure scare years ago). Once you've had a chance to catch your breath, if you're still uneasy, call your doctor - assuming you have one that you know and trust. Explain your exposure in detail, and ask if they would recommend preventative antibiotics in your case or not. Follow-up on the infected person to find out if it is bacterial or viral meningitis. Be aware of any possible symptoms and take them seriously. Remember to breathe. That's really all one can do.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I called my GP; he's prescribing something prophylactic (which I wish were as fun as it sounds).

I'll try to work on that breathing thing.

[taverymate.livejournal.com]

Very glad to hear that you connected with your doctor. I hope that taking the antibiotics helps ease your concern. While you're working on the breathing, remember Turnbull's advice to "think of the color yellow." Hey, if it helped to stop Frannie in full flood, it must have something *g*.

[cetpar.livejournal.com]

If he's giving you rifampin (one of the preventative antbiotics), just know that all bodily fluids may turn orangey/reddish. Sometimes the doctors forget to tell you that.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I was warned! Thanks. And yes that is the one (rifampin).

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Aw sweetie! Don't panic, you'll be fine - a couple I know met one day, and spent the ENTIRE DAY kissing (they were teenagers). The NEXT DAY, he was in the hospital with bacterial meningitis. And she NEVER CAUGHT IT.

She did marry him, and he was kind of an asshole, but the meningitis thing was no biggie.

It sounds like your doctor knows what he's doing with the prophylactic and all. Maybe you can make a House fanfic out of it when it's all over. ;-)

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Mmmm - House....

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

I had meningitis for about 3 weeks. It was pretty much like having the flu, except for the 10 days in the hospital and the IV antibiotics. But everyone was nice to me, I got lots of presents, and the nurses let me have ice cream whenever I wanted so I didn't mind. Especially the paid time off work.

You're probably going to be fine, but you could rest your mind at ease by taking your temperature a couple of times a day to see if you start running any low grade fevers. I'm glad you let your doctor know.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

:nod: Scary shit, man. I'll get a thermometer.

[pun.livejournal.com]

Don't die. We were supposed to watch Wiseguy together!


(I'm sorry, was that insensitive?)

[smaragdgrun.livejournal.com]

I think you should watch many episodes of House, as it will surely have much advice wrt exotic diseases that might have some of the same symptoms as meningitis...

[jacquez.livejournal.com]

if you're taking antibios as prophylaxis, remember to EAT YOUR YOGURT. live culture yogurt. it will helps with the traditional double-whammy of antibios: the runs and yeast infections.

[ardent-muses.livejournal.com]

Nothing to add except a big hug. I'm sure you'll be fine but it *sucks* to be scared by random unexpected scary things.

:::hugs::::

[meri-oddities.livejournal.com]

Well, everyone has given you all the advice you need, so I'll just say *hugs*! I know how horrible it is to be scared like that. I hope you're a little less stressed when you read this.

And I third (or fourth) the suggestion for House eps. They are good for what ails you. :-)