Students die from meningitis...

[mo5quito]

Hey... I am a student at UWEC (Eau Claire, WI) and there has been some pretty weird stuff going on here recently. Last Sunday night a student died from Meningitis. Usually it takes a few days from the first signs of symptoms until death but this guy died in about 10 hours from the time of his first symptoms. It really shook up the campus. His name is Sean (just so you know). Well, this is the second meningitis related death on campus this year. So I left on Monday morning for our Concert Choir tour and found out on Tuesday that a student at UW-Madison and a student at UW-Whitewater died on Monday from Meningitis. Again, a little weird. Well, I'm back at home now and just found out yesterday that there was a student from the technical college in town who is in the hospital from meningitis and today we found out that a student from a local high school just died from it also. Supposedly none of the cases are related... in fact a few of them are from different strains of the disease.
So there you have it. In all seriousness, I'm really not scared. If God decides that it's my time then I know where I'm going. I just pray that this city and my school can be comforted by Him.

-Ben

 

[amie]

Hi Ben,
I am so sorry to hear of these cases. As I am sure that you know, meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain. there are several different strains of it as some are viral and some are bacterial and BOTH can be potentially dangerous and fatal in some cases. I pray for you to be surrounded by healing! It is a scary thing to know that it is out there where you are attending school, and any cental nervous system infection is dangerous ground...I will pray hard for you, for everyone attending the school, and for the whole town...until the pathology reports come back with difinative diagnostics, and causative agents...all we can do is pray for all of those affected! I have no doubt the CDC, centers for Disease Control in Atlanta is right on this as I am praying! I pray for you Ben and everyone else there too, and the families of the victims need prayer now more than ever. Praying for all involved, keep us posted and Good Luck Ben, take care of you, if you start getting any syptoms even in the middle of the night, you GO to the hospital, just say the word meningitis, and trust me on this, you'll get treated as quick as possible! Love and Blessings to you!
Amie

 

[mo5quito]

thank you amie... thank you thank you thank you... I'll keep you updated.

 

[allieisme]

WOW..and how sad and scary..So this disease isnt contagious or is it? and if not, how do they believe all these cases are happening all at the same time, or around the same time as everyone else..

I will most definetly keep you in my prayers, and I'll keep coming back to this thread for any updates that you have..
Be strong and be safe, GOD LOVES YOU!
Allison

 

[amie]

Originally posted by allieisme
So this disease isnt contagious or is it? and if not, how do they believe all these cases are happening all at the same time, or around the same time as everyone else.

there are different varieties of meningitis..there is acute bacterial meningitis, and this can be lethal in hours, I would put money on this is what Ben's buddy Sean had...if bacterial meningitis is EVER suspected, antibioticas are started immediately, without even waiting for diagnostic test results....then there is aseptic meningitis,which is more often than not caused by infections of other viruses a person has aquired...then there is chronic meningitis, this strain is most often developed alongside fungal infections, TB, Lyme disease...the list goes on...there is Viral meningitis, neoplastic meningitis...all of these are ultimately caused by different strains, but all will suffer headache as a result. I hope I have not confused anybody more with this. The CDC is on this about meningitis and anytime you want to look up anything, you can log on to their web site!
hang in there Ben and keep us posted, we are still praying for you, your school, the victims and your community! with love and peace!
Amie

 

[solo66 man]

Extremely informative! Very good. You should be a teacher.

Originally posted by amie

there are different varieties of meningitis..there is acute bacterial meningitis, and this can be lethal in hours, I would put money on this is what Ben's buddy Sean had...if bacterial meningitis is EVER suspected, antibioticas are started immediately, without even waiting for diagnostic test results....then there is aseptic meningitis,which is more often than not caused by infections of other viruses a person has aquired...then there is chronic meningitis, this strain is most often developed alongside fungal infections, TB, Lyme disease...the list goes on...there is Viral meningitis, neoplastic meningitis...all of these are ultimately caused by different strains, but all will suffer headache as a result. I hope I have not confused anybody more with this. The CDC is on this about meningitis and anytime you want to look up anything, you can log on to their web site!
hang in there Ben and keep us posted, we are still praying for you, your school, the victims and your community! with love and peace!
Amie

 

[amie]

Originally posted by solo66 man
Extremely informative! Very good. You should be a teacher.

Thanks solo...I know how much you want me to get out of medicine!!! I catch your little hints Solo...you forgot to pray for Ben while you were here...
How ya doing Ben? so far no symptoms I hope...Praying for you always Ben! and you too Solo!
Amie

 

[solo66 man]

Actually I said a prayer last night, but did not post it.
I pray God spares many from what seems to be too many dying from meningitis.. I pray Ben is spared and that his prayers avail much.

 

[AndiLynn]

As someone who's living on a college campus, this is something I think about a lot, any time I get sick...I'll be praying for you all.

 

[Rose-Mary]

In the UK all children and students are offered vaccinations against menigitis C, it is not unusual for menigitis to kill within hours!

 

[mo5quito]

thank you all... again. It really means a lot knowing there is an army of people around the nation/world praying for this. Nothing new has been heard. They did a story in the local paper about the High School student who died and it was a great article. Really honored his life but also explained what exactly happened to him when they noticed the symptoms. Umm, yeah. I feel great, except for my back but that's because I think I pulled my entire back the other day digging a hole for our forth-coming hot tub . So I'm fine. And there have been no more outbreaks so that is wonderful. Again, thanks...
Ben

 

[amie]

Glad to hear you are well Ben! Thats great!
Amie

 

[forjesus]

I pray for healing of this terrible sickness, its scary to think about your children in school and this happening. God Bless

 

[ZiSunka]

This was happening in Ohio last fall. Two students in a small high school died from the same thing.

I think they decided that they had been exposed to it at a conference the kids had been to...