Posted on 10/14/2012 3:45:19 AM PDT by nuconvert
-excerpt-
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak has now sickened 197 people in a 13 states.
(Excerpt) Read more at wbur.org ...
Meningitis outbreak: Incubation period is longer than first thought
“Based on analysis of Tennessee patients, a range for development of symptoms is six to 42 days — and “some experts believe vigilance for up to three months will be necessary,” Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner said.
That recommendation comes out of an “abundance of caution,” he said.
Previously, the incubation period had been estimated at two to 28 days
This is so sexist. “Men”ingitis?!? Pulllease.
/s
Thanks nuconvert.
Penacillin cleared MY case up ... took about a week.
I think at least half of all Minnesotans may have been infected with this brain disorder.
it would explain a lot.
Lol. Yes, but it was years ago
Glad to hear that!
I spent a week in quaranteen with meningitus in 1988. Actually died and came back again. It was the most painful experience in my life as it felt as though someone had both my eyes in a vise and were squeezing them to make them pop. Felt as though my head was going to explode. I would never wish this experience on anyone.
There are several types of meningitus. Some bacterial, some viral, and now fungal is in the news. Here are the comments on the three from web MD:
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis is an extremely serious illness that requires immediate medical care. If not treated quickly, it can lead to death within hours — or lead to permanent damage to the brain and other parts of the body.
Bacterial meningitis is caused by any one of several bacteria. Neisseria meningitidis or “meningococcus” is common in children and young adults, and Streptococcuspneumoniae or “pneumococcus” is another common cause in children and adults. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) was a common cause of meningitis in infants and young children until the Hib vaccine was introduced for infants. Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae account for most of the bacterial meningitis cases in the U.S. Vaccines are available for both Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. They’re recommended for all children and adults at special risk.
The bacteria can spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. If you are around someone who has bacterial meningitis, contact your doctor to ask what steps you need to take to avoid infection.
In many instances, bacterial meningitis develops when bacteria get into the bloodstream from the sinuses, ears, or other part of the upper respiratory tract. The bacteria then travel through the bloodstream to the brain.
Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis is more common than the bacterial form and generally — but not always — less serious. It can be triggered by a number of viruses, including several that can cause diarrhea.
People with viral meningitis are much less likely to have permanent brain damage after the infection resolves. Most will recover completely.
Fungal Meningitis
Fungal meningitis is much less common than the other two infectious forms. Fungus-related meningitis is rare in healthy people. However, someone who has an impaired immune system is more likely to become infected with this form of meningitis.
A question I have is:
If a blood donor gives blood and unknowingly has the virus, is that blood contaminated?
Wow. As if it isn’t bad enough already.
“Boston is widely recognized as being the medical capital of the world ...”
I apologize in advance if offensive, but although Boston clearly has some great hospitals and docs, the idea that it is the medical capital of the world is just not accurate anymore. Actually, the idea that there is a medical capital of the world is not accurate anymore. I’ve seen some very marginal medical care and decision making at some of the ‘best’ hospitals with name recognition, and some great care and outstanding decision making by docs working at private hospitals with no name recognition.
The other fact that many people aren’t aware of is that medical school rankings are in large measure based on NIH research dollars - not some estimation of patient care.
That said, there are most definitely some of the best hospitals in the world in Boston.
Wasn't the compound pharmacy in Springfield?
Never mind, I see it is Framingham.
In a word, yes.
Diagnostic testing for meningitis is thru cerebrospinal fluid, not blood, but it’s carried in the blood. I’m not familiar with the treatment & all the testing of donated blood. A handful of infectious diseases are screened for in every donation (meningitis not included). I know some blood is cultured, but I don’t know if it’s routine for every donation.
I think the Red Cross updates screening for infectious diseases as outbreaks warrant it.
In the early 70's I was still a doped hippy with very bad teeth.
I approached Harvard School of Dentistry and became Virgil Smith's graduating thesis (he was the senior assigned to me and he assisted with extractions and built my first set of dentures) ... all gratis, 'cause 'the system' was in place and I had learned how to 'politic'.
Boston is actually a kalidescopic Disneyland of humanity;
I forget the exact number, but I remember reading (a long time ago) that there were something like 350 institutions of higher education .. college, junior college, university, etc. in a 25 mile radius ... or something like that ... and every September the youth of the world descends on Boston to go to school .... and to the young and horny single guy ....
I don't miss Boston now because I'm too old for the pace, but if I was still younger ................
The reason I asked is that all Talk shows on Fox and CNN, with Medical advice segments, have insisted that the only way to get this fungal meningitis is thru the injection. They never mentioned blood donors. This is not an issue for me personally, just curiosity.
I have read that even if a person received this contaminated steroid injection, their chance of getting meningitis is less than 5 percent.
(so they say)
I’ve been researching the fungi that is causing the meningitis and found that it is normally found in the soil and that it causes corn root rot and corn leaf blight. Wouldn’t it be odd if this new strain resulted from a common fungi interacting with the genetically modified corn plants thus causing new symptoms in humans. Total unfounded speculation on my part as it was just a thought that came to me while researching it.
The pharmacy that provided the contaminated drug:
“The New England Compounding Center was masquerading as a compounding pharmacy so it could escape federal regulation when it was actually operating as a drug manufacturer,” said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., who sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the FDA.
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