There is a lot of talk on campus this semester about meningitis.

It started this summer with the new state law requiring students living in college-owned housing at all Pennsylvania colleges to either be immunized against meningitis or to sign a waiver instead of having the vaccination.

Since more than 13,000 students at University Park live in Penn State housing, the law affected more than 30 percent of Penn State students.

Then last week, a student who came to University Health Services main clinic in Ritenour Building was diagnosed with viral meningitis and was then moved to be hospitalized at Centre Community Hospital.

This case caused considerable concern and Penn State students and employees raised many questions.

They wanted to know if they could "catch" meningitis. They wanted to know what causes it, how it is diagnosed and treated, and they wanted to know if they should be worried about the risks.

There was also some confusion about what precautions, if any, should be taken in her workplace or the residence hall where she lived.

The truth is that there are a lot of misconceptions about meningitis, starting with confusion about exactly what we mean when we refer to meningitis.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord.

There are two basic kinds of meningitis, one caused by bacteria, and the other one cased by viruses.

Meningococcal (bacterial) meningitis is the more serious kind of meningitis.

There are many different bacteria that can cause bacterial meningitis. The one that is most common in college students is cause by the neisseria meningitidis bacteria and is called meningococcal meningitis.

The same bacteria can also enter the blood stream and when this occurs, it is termed meningococcemia.

The early symptoms of meningococcal meningitis can be difficult to recognize because so many of the symptoms mimic the flu.

Headache, low-grade fever, vomiting, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light are early symptoms.

However, as the disease progresses, patients might seem confused, become combative, have seizures, lose consciousness, or develop a purplish rash under the skin.

If not treated in time, meningococcal meningitis can lead to permanent complications, such as brain damage or hearing loss.

And it can be fatal.

A lumbar puncture is the only way to determine the cause (viral or bacterial) of meningococcal meningitis.

Because it can progress so rapidly (24 to 48 hours from the time of onset) and can be fatal even when treated with antibiotics, it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

While meningococcal meningitis is a rare disease, it does disproportionately affect young adults, particularly college students living in dormitories.

According to the American College Health Association, it is estimated that 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur each year on college campuses and five to 15 students die as a result.

Persons who have had intimate contact with someone who has bacterial meningitis, such as roommates, will require prophylactic medication immediately.

Outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis can occur in relatively isolated or confined environments such as residence halls or fraternities.

Plus, the lifestyles of some college students may put them at greater risk.

Inadequate sleep and nutrition, active and passive smoking, bar patronage, sharing food utensils and drinking cups, and excessive alcohol consumption may increase the risk of contracting meningococcal disease.

The Menomune vaccine required by the new law has been shown to be 85 percent effective in protecting individuals from four groups of meningococcus.

However, it doesn't offer protection against a fifth type, which causes about a third of cases among college students.

Viral meningitis, the other kind of meningitis, is more common that bacterial meningitis, but not as serious. Although the symptoms can be severe, most cases of viral meningitis run a short, uneventful course. Since the cause is a virus, antibiotics are not effective.

Signs and symptoms may include stuff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, and rash.

Unlike the bacterial kind of meningitis, viral meningitis does not usually progress beyond these symptoms. Persons who have had contact with an individual with viral meningitis do not require any treatment.

So, what does all this mean for Penn State students?

If students live in a residence hall and have not yet received the vaccine for meningococcal meningitis, they should get immunized. (See list of upcoming clinics.) If students have symptoms of meningitis, they should seek medical care.

Students should not share toothbrushes, drinking cups, or other food utensils with anyone else.If students have any questions about meningitis, they may call the Telephone Advice Nurse at University Health Services at 864-4463.

New Policy on Verification of Illness:

For significant, prolonged illnesses lasting at least a week, UHS may provide "Verification of Serious Illness." Verification will only be provided for serious illnesses for which UHS clinicians have provided services or for which the appropriate medical documentation from outside clinicians is provided to UHS.

For more information about this new policy, call a UHS nurse manager at 814-865-7120.