San Marino High School student contracts viral meningitis

SAN MARINO >> A student at San Marino High School has been diagnosed with viral meningitis, the district announced Friday.

Viral meningitis produces tissue inflammation which covers the brain and spinal cord. Enteroviruses, the most common cause of the disease, appear most often during the summer and fall.

Symptoms include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, drowsiness or confusion, nausea and vomiting. They usually last seven to 10 days.

People who suspect they or their child have viral meningitis should see a health care provider immediately even though the disease is usually less severe than bacterial meningitis and usually go away without specific treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors often recommend bed rest, plenty of fluids and medicine to relieve fever and headache.

Yet, viral meningitis can be severe or fatal depending on the virus causing the infection, a person’s age or his immune system.

Enteroviruses are most often transmitted through fecal contamination, which can happen during diaper changing or improperly washing hands after toilet use. It can also be spread through the saliva, phlegm or nasal mucus of an infected person, according to the CDC.

Contact with a contaminated surface such as a drinking glass or telephone could also spread the virus, according to an email San Marino Unified School District sent to parents.

It usually takes between three to six days for people to develop symptoms after they are exposed.

To prevent infection, people should wash their hands thoroughly and often. They should also avoid sharing eating utensils or drinking from the same cup as someone who is sick.

Parents whose children have contracted viral meningitis should notify their children’s school.

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Zen Vuong
