KU law school student treated for viral meningitis

LAWRENCE--A first-year law student at the University of Kansas is being treated at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Overland Park for viral meningitis, according to KU health officials. The student is expected to make a full recovery.

Dr. Myra Strother, chief of staff at KU's Watkins Student Health Center, will meet with all first-year law students at 2:30 p.m. today to inform them on the basics of viral meningitis.

Strother said she will tell the students that viral meningitis case is not cause for alarm.

Of the two types of meningitis - viral and bacterial - viral meningitis is the less threatening, she said. Viral meningitis, also referred to as aseptic meningitis, is a relatively common but rarely serious infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. A number of different viruses can cause viral meningitis, many of which are associated with other diseases. Mosquito-borne viruses can also cause viral meningitis.

Symptoms are fever, headache, stiff neck and tiredness. Rash, sore throat, and vomiting can also occur.

"We will make sure to tell the students that just because you sat next to him in the class, you are not likely to become ill," Strother said. "The best treatment for students is to keep themselves healthy so their immune system can fight off this virus like it does other viruses, that means eating well, getting plenty of sleep, washing your hands, exercising, and not drinking alcohol.

Because this is a case of viral meningitis, Strother said, it is highly unlikely that other students will contract the disease. Unlike bacterial meningitis, which can prove fatal if left untreated, viral meningitis usually clears up in a week or two without specific treatment.

"Though we are very concerned about the student and glad that he appears to be recovering without any difficulties, we are always relieved when it is viral meningitis instead of bacterial because there tends to be a lesser chance of other people contracting this disease," Strother said. "Viral meningitis is usually caused by the common viruses that are in the community, so there is no need for isolation or prophylactic treatment if you have been exposed to the student."

Anyone who has questions about viral meningitis can call Watkins' health education line at 864-9507. If a student has persistent symptoms, or feels ill in any way, Dr. Strother recommends they call and come into Watkins Student Health Center. Information about meningitis is available at (785) 864-8000.

A meningitis information page is available at the KU home page, www.ku.edu.

Some other facts about viral meningitis:
 •Symptoms generally appear within one week of exposure. Illness usually lasts less than 10 days, and people usually recover completely without complications.
 •Viral meningitis is diagnosed by blood tests and a spinal tap.
 •About half of the cases in the United States are caused by common intestinal viruses.
 •The way people contract viral meningitis depends on the virus involved. Some viruses that cause viral meningitis are spread by person-to-person contact; other viruses are spread by insects. Fortunately, very few people who become infected with these viruses actually develop meningitis.
 •Anyone can get viral meningitis, but it occurs most often in children and young adults.
 •Almost all cases are single, isolated events. Outbreaks are rare.