Rushing to class, you notice an odd stiffness in your shoulders and neck. You were unusually tired when you woke that morning and wonder if you might be coming down with a cold. But being a college student who works long hours with little sleep and has, at best, mediocre eating habits, you think nothing of it and go about your day.
With all the stresses of everyday college life, many students do not give minor ailments a second thought. Unfortunately, however, such slight symptoms can be indicative of a much more dangerous malady- one that can be treated if caught in time, but may be difficult to diagnose. Run-down conditions usually mean too much stress and not enough down time, but they might also be signs of meningitis, a disease to which college students are becoming more and more susceptible.
Symptoms of meningitis include flu-like signs, high fever, headaches, stiff-neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and/or a rash. If it is not detected early, the disease can progress rapidly.
A meningitis scare in Tilton Hall last year was a wake-up call for many Tufts students. A student had contracted the bacteria which causes meningococcal meningitis, the most common form of meningitis found in college students. Living in close proximity and sharing everyday items such as cups, plates, food, and clothing can promote the spread of viruses and other diseases.
Meningitis affects 3,000 Americans and kills approximately 300 each year. One hundred to 125 cases of meningitis appear on college campuses across the country each year. Of the people that contract the disease, 10 to 13 percent die despite receiving antibiotics. Of those who survive, 10 percent suffer severe side effects such as mental retardation, hearing loss, or the loss of limbs.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the factors that heighten the risk for contracting meningitis are communal living, bar patronage, smoking, and irregular sleep patterns - all habits of some college students. People from the ages of 15 to 24 are considered at the greatest risk.
In a study conducted in Great Britain and in Germany, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices found that university students were found to be at greater risk than non-students of the same age.
"College students are most likely to get this disease because their immune systems are run down already and they ignore the symptoms," a spokesman for the Center for Disease Control said.
The CDC recommends that entering freshman, especially those living in dorms, should be vaccinated against the most predominate serogroups of the disease: A, C, Y and W -135. These four serogroups account for two-thirds of the strains that affect college students and the college -aged population.
The vaccination, which may cause a few minor side effects, is virtually painless and may only lead to slight swelling at the sight of application.
Alhough Tufts does not require the vaccine for entering students, "we do heavily recommend it," a spokesman for Health Services said. The common vaccine, Memomune, is especially recommended for any college-aged person, infants, and travelers to high-risk areas of Africa. The shot, which costs between $55 and $75, lasts for 3 to 5 years.
Though most students have been well educated recently as to the risk of contracting meningitis, many do not believe it should be mandatory before entrance to colleges across the country.
"We have to get immunized for mumps, measles, polio, and tetanus but not diseases like the flu. Why should it be mandatory?" junior Courtney Brown said.
Still, many feel that if the concern is legitimate, vaccination could be mandated.
"If the danger is real and imminent, then yes, [the vaccination] should be mandatory," senior Karen Wang said.
