Ponca student suspected to have meningitis
9:35 PM
By Travis Coleman Journal staff writer | Posted: Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Officials with the Ponca, Neb., School District will meet today with the Dakota County Health Department to confirm whether an elementary student has a meningitis infection.
School Superintendent Bill Thompson said Tuesday that he wants to be sure what type of meningitis infection the student has before making another move. The child attends classes at the Jackson Elementary in Jackson, Neb.
About 60 children attend the school, Thompson said.
Thompson said he hasn't yet sent a letter to parents detailing the situation because authorities haven't confirmed if the infection is the mild viral meningitis or the more dangerous bacterial meningitis.
Viral meningitis usually clears up in one to two weeks without treatment. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection found in the fluid of the spinal cord or near the brain and can cause brain damage or death.
It's spread through close contact with the discharges of an infected person's nose or throat. Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics.
Some of the common symptoms of a bacterial meningitis infection in people over the age of 2 include high fever, headache and a stiff neck.
In advanced cases, infected people have bruises under the skin that spread quickly.
School Superintendent Bill Thompson said Tuesday that he wants to be sure what type of meningitis infection the student has before making another move. The child attends classes at the Jackson Elementary in Jackson, Neb.
About 60 children attend the school, Thompson said.
Thompson said he hasn't yet sent a letter to parents detailing the situation because authorities haven't confirmed if the infection is the mild viral meningitis or the more dangerous bacterial meningitis.
Viral meningitis usually clears up in one to two weeks without treatment. Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection found in the fluid of the spinal cord or near the brain and can cause brain damage or death.
It's spread through close contact with the discharges of an infected person's nose or throat. Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics.
Some of the common symptoms of a bacterial meningitis infection in people over the age of 2 include high fever, headache and a stiff neck.
In advanced cases, infected people have bruises under the skin that spread quickly.
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Gail F. Bailey wrote on May 19, 2007 7:13 PM:
Mark Hammons wrote on May 18, 2007 8:08 PM: