KILLEEN, TX — The Saegert Elementary School community mourns the loss of a student who contracted meningitis. When the news spread, many parents had questions surrounding the illness.
There was growing confusion over what type of meningitis the boy contracted. Meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis are two different types of meningitis and are caused by two different types of bacteria. Both are treated differently.
This case was pneumococcal meningitis, which is the most common form.
"It’s about 70 percent of cases,” said Dr. Clayton Massey, of Express Emergency Room in Harker Heights.
Unlike meningococcal meningitis, a vaccine for pneumococcal bacteria is given to patients when they are infants.
"Now, the reason you can still get it is that the vaccine doesn’t cover all serotypes,” said Massey.
He says it is still an important vaccination to aid in prevention.
The disease is spread through droplets of mucus. Sharing liquids and coughing within six feet of someone can spread bacteria. Coughing into your forearm, frequent hand washing and general hygiene is the best way to protect against the spread of bacteria.
Some asked how long the disease can be carried by a patient.
"For most people you’re looking at a three to five day incubation period. It can happen more rapidly than that especially if it gets in the cerebral spinal fluid for one reason or another,” said Massey.
Patients are urged to seek medical treatment immediately following the onset of symptoms.
"You want to get into the hospital immediately get evaluated and get on antibiotics. Because the faster you are treated the more likely you have few long lasting effects and also survive," said Massey.
