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New case fatal, but meningitis not epidemic

By Amber Peabody


This document was published online on Tuesday, March 04, 2008

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A second case of meningitis in Park County has proven to be fatal, but is not related to the first case in February, according to Park County Health Officer Charles Jamieson, M.D.

The two cases were caused by different strains of bacteria that are not connected.

“We do not have an epidemic of bacterial meningitis in our community,” he said. “People should just take this as a reminder that life is precious and use common sense to help prevent disease.”

A 15-year-old Cody High School student, whom Dr. Jamieson did not identify, died Saturday after he was diagnosed with meningitis last week.

The boy had a sinus infection for about two days before symptoms worsened and he sought medical care. He was seen in the emergency room Thursday where it was determined he had meningitis. He was taken by air ambulance to Denver and died Saturday.

“It was a complication of a primary infection that overwhelmed the immune system before it could be treated,” Jamieson said. “He had a run-of-the-mill infection that got more aggressive and crossed into his brain.”

The second case comes just a few weeks after a 15-year-old female at CHS was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. She is back at school and expected to make a full recovery.

“The only common denominator is they happened to attend CHS,” he said. “They didn't go in the same circles or attend the same classes.”

The first case was caused by Neisseria Meningitidis, which is a bacterial form that can be contagious to close contacts. It is preventable by a vaccine. Anyone who came in close contact with the girl was given antibiotics and no new cases have occurred from that incident.

But the second case doesn't have the same characteristics and is an isolated incident, Jamieson said. It could not have been prevented by the available vaccine because it wasn't caused by the same bacteria.

“They're having difficulty finding the organism,” Jamieson said. “They're exhausting all their resources trying to identify one.

“It could have been any bacteria that caused a sinus infection and damaged the lining and allowed it to cross to the brain.”

Meningitis is caused by exposure to specific aggressive bacteria, much like the first case, or by a complication of a common infection like sinusitis, as in the second case, Jamieson said.

It is an inflammation of the tough, protective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal column. It's caused by an infection that has crossed the blood-brain barrier.

“A bad sinus infection can go on for weeks and weeks in one person,” Jamieson said. “In another person it's 24 hours and if it gets into the wrong place (the brain) it has free rein.”

The two most common causes are viral and bacterial, both of which can be contagious, but only to people with prolonged close contact with the patient, or an exposure to the patient's bodily fluids or secretions.

The signs and symptoms of meningitis (or spinal meningitis) are an extremely ill patient with headache and stiffness of their neck and back. There is commonly a fever, but it may not be high. There may be other symptoms of sinusitis, upper respiratory illness and even rashes.

The only way to diagnose meningitis is by a physician doing a spinal tap and taking a sample of the spinal fluid for lab analysis.

Since the cases have two different causes, Jamieson said the community should not be alarmed about an epidemic of infectious meningitis.

People can protect themselves from communicable diseases by using good hand washing techniques and limiting exposure to other people when sick. Staying home from work or school, as well as places where people congregate such as church and stores, is recommended.

Anyone with concerns or signs of meningitis such as progressive illness with fever and stiff neck should seek medical attention for definitive diagnosis and treatment.

Vaccination is available to prevent meningococcal meningitis for children ages 12-18.

To get the vaccine contact a physician's office or Public Health, 527-8570.
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Reader Comments

FCV wrote on Mar 6, 2008 7:31 AM:

" Slumbergal, the young man died of a sinus infection, not a "highly communicable disease" as you say. The sinus infection, as the article clearly states, crossed into his brain and caused meningitis. What is so difficult to understand here? The two cases are UNRELATED. "

MUSAorg wrote on Mar 6, 2008 1:39 AM:

" The Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA), a national organization, would like the public and media to know that information is available regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis. MFA was founded by parents whose children were affected by meningitis. In addition to supporting vaccines and other means of preventing meningitis, the MFA provides information to educate the public and medical professionals so that the early diagnosis, treatment and, most important, prevention of meningitis, will save lives.

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 deafness, brain damage and other disabilities. Complications from bacterial meningitis can sometimes result in loss of limbs.

MFA has many spokespersons available. If you would like to arrange an interview with a spokesperson please call Jamie Callahan, General Manager of the MFA. A MFA press kit and, for television producers, b-roll footage is available upon request. For further information, visit the MFA website at www.musa.org.

Thank you,

Ms. Jamie Callahan, General Manager
Meningitis Foundation of America
6610 North Shadeland Ave.
Suite 220
Indianapolis, IN 46220
(800) 668-1129 ext.7
jcallahan@musa.org
"

Marty wrote on Mar 5, 2008 10:04 AM:

" My 14 year old son died of Meningitis. While the disease is contagious, it is very difficult to contract. My prayers go out to both families.

Keep faith that you will see your son again some day... "

R wrote on Mar 4, 2008 1:52 PM:

" It's really sad. All of his family, including myself miss him dearly. "

MC wrote on Mar 4, 2008 1:03 PM:

" First off, this is a minor. They were both minors which is why names were not released. I happen to know personally through the first case that WAS contagious that the public health nurse's office contacts everyone that was exposed and takes care of the situation. IF there was a need in this second case to contact individuals it would be done as well. While it is the right of each person to know if they have come in contact with a communical disease, it is taken care of when needed. Give this family their time to grieve without being looked at as plague bearers. "

doc wrote on Mar 4, 2008 11:38 AM:

" This second case isn't a contagious variety so no need to release the name. These two cases are totally unrelated - different diseases and different organisms.

The kids at Cody High School know his name. It's already out all over town. So just ask any C.H.S. kid and they'll tell you his name. "

ro wrote on Mar 4, 2008 10:57 AM:

" I don't know about releasing the name of the student that passed but i thik if my children were students at CHS they would be getting vacinated, 2 case in a months time, way to much coinsidence for me. "

hl wrote on Mar 4, 2008 9:26 AM:

" the "they" you are asking about, is probably a broad term used in reference to the laboratory techs who have the sample in their lab for testing. "

slumbergal wrote on Mar 4, 2008 9:16 AM:

" It should be mandatory that the name of the person who died of this highly communicable disease be realeased. This is the "right" thing to do, as persons who were "exposed" could contract this deadly disease. "

IC wrote on Mar 4, 2008 8:11 AM:

" While they have no link between the 2 cases doesn't it seem strange to see 2 such cases in a small town at the same time? Call me crazy but compared to twenty years ago we seem to see 2-3 different colds go through almost everyone in town every winter season. I hate to see what happens in another 2o years... "

CG wrote on Mar 3, 2008 10:33 PM:

" “They're having difficulty finding the organism,” Jamieson said. “They're exhausting all their resources trying to identify one." Who is "They"? "

 

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