Question

Pediatric nurses in the community often are in a position to answer questions about childhood illnesses. Recently, parents of high school children received a notice from the school nurse that a male student had been diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. Close contacts of the student had been identified and treated appropriately. The nurse recommended that parents of children not in close contact with the student should be watchful but not overly concerned. Her letter advised parents to watch their children for 2 weeks and call the physician at any sign of illness.

1. Is this course of action prudent?

2. If so, why? If not, why not?

Answer 1

Yes the School nurse has taken a prudent action.

Since Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal meningitis is associated with high fatality (up to 50% when untreated) and high frequency (more than 10%) of severe sequelae.

People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu.

After the school nurse found out a male student had been diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis she have taken up steps and find out the close contacts among the students and identified and treated appropriately.

The nurse recommended that parents of children not in close contact with the student should be watchful specially for 2 weeks for any sign of illness to detect if it is related to Meningococcal meningitis but she also said not to overly concerned because the change of getting the infection is less since they are not in close contact .She also explain if any sign of illness comes they should consult the physician and detect the causes early for tretment.

Hence, she have taken all neccessary actions to take care for children in school as her responsibility.