Meningitus ,encephalitus at school

[JennyMominRI]

Students, staff to get antibiotics; Warwick school to stay closed
Providence AP December 31,2006
WARWICK, R.I. (AP) - The Greenwood Elementary School in Warwick
will remain closed an extra week, until January eighth.
A second-grader from the school died of encephalitis just over a
week ago.
Now, the school's students, staff and families are being advised
to take antibiotics for a type of pneumonia that can progress to
encephalitis.
State public health officials said today that at least two more
students - a seven-year-old boy and ten-year-old girl - have been
diagnosed with the pneumonia bacteria.
"Walking pneumonia" is an infection of the lungs. It
progressed to encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, and
killed seven-year-old Dylan Gleavey.
One of his classmates suffered meningitis, an infection around
the brain. She recovered.
The state Department of Health now recommends that the students,
staff and their immediate families begin antibiotics -- free of
charge.
The cause of the outbreak is unknown.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

This school is pretty close and now another child has died.

 

[C.Ann]

Oh my gosh! That is so sad - and so scary..

I certainly hope there are no more fatalities and they're able to get things under control..

 

[JennyMominRI]

They are now saying there are 6 kids effected.. 4 more with Pnuemonia
An the 2 that die.

 

[C.Ann]

Do your children attend these schools? I sure hope not! I'd be out of my mind with worry..

 

[JennyMominRI]

Do your children attend these schools? I sure hope not! I'd be out of my mind with worry..

Not that exact one,but it is very close,and lots of kids come in contact with kids from other schools,KWIM?

 

[tw1nsmom]

If you don't qualify for the free antibiotics, I would call your Dr. and get a prescription for you and your kids. Like you aid, even though your children don't go to that exact school, they do come into contact with children who do go there. I know antibiotics are often overprescribed, but this sounds serious. Definitely talk to your doctor.

 

[poohandwendy]

Very, very scary Jenny.

 

[snowwite]

Wow, that is just scary!

 

[Jeanny]

wow, that's wicked scary! I hope everyone is ok!

 

[Aidensmom]

How terrible!

I agree with the poster that said you should ask your doctor for antibiotics for you and your family.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm thinking of keeping at least my elementary aged son home Tuesday and calling the doctor that day..It's not just them I'm worried about,I mean,I have a compromised immune system and i've been pretty much non-stop sick all fall.

 

[poohandwendy]

I'm thinking of keeping at least my elementary aged son home Tuesday and calling the doctor that day..It's not just them I'm worried about,I mean,I have a compromised immune system and i've been pretty much non-stop sick all fall.

That is what I am worried about, too. Would a dose of antibiotics help protect you too?

 

[JennyMominRI]

That is what I am worried about, too. Would a dose of antibiotics help protect you too?

Possibly,but I believed I have been vaccinated ,at least for meningitus..I am on anti-biotics,Septra,all the time to prevent PCP

 

[mytwotinks]

How scary. I would call the doctor and ask for the meds. Better safe than sorry.