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Dr. UTB Tells You How To Not Get Meningitis

Not to cause mass panic or anything, but we've heard of several people who've had viral meningitis (not to be confused with the more contagious bacterial kind) lately. Maybe we're just being paranoid, but that seems like a lot to us considering we swore we faked turned in our immunization forms on time.

We really don't want to end up in some I Am Legend situation, so we asked our friends at the Student Health Advisory Board to give us the low-low on whether or not we're all gonna die from what we're definitely going to mislabel as an epidemic. They sent us some very useful information on how to stay meningitis-free; we'd like to share it with you!

What are the symptoms? How can you protect yourself? Hypochondriacs, do NOT click after the jump. Everyone else, grab some Purel and dive in.

The folks at SHAB and SHS sent us to the CDC's website on viral meningitis, which we're dropping for you here.

The symptoms:

The signs and symptoms of meningitis are similar to other common viral diseases: High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness.
So how do we avoid turning Penn into an infected zombie wasteland?
Preventing the spread of virus can be difficult, especially since sometimes people are infected with a virus but do not appear sick. In such cases, infected people can still spread the virus to others. Thus, it is important to always practice good hygiene to help reduce your chances of becoming infected with a virus or of passing one on to someone else.
1. Wash your hands. Seriously. And we don't mean running the water for five seconds because you don't want the other person in the bathroom to think you're gross. Lather it up, people. This goes for you nose-blowers, too.

2. Lysol the bejesus out of dooknobs, keyboards, the entire SEPTA system, etc.

3. Cover your cough! What are you, a preschooler? Totally basic. Real talk:

  • The viruses that cause viral meningitis can be spread by direct and indirect contact with respiratory secretions, so it is important to cover your cough with a tissue or, if you do not have a tissue, to cough into your upper arm.
4. Do not make out with anyone that you think has any kind of sickness. Look at it this way: now you have a great way to politely turn down that troll of a creature trying to DFMO! "Sorry, it's just that I'm really scared of getting meningitis. Nothing personal." Don't drink after them, either.

Be safe out there! And, as always, if you want more information feel free to call SHS or reach out to Sharon McMullem, the Public Health Nurse Manager at mcm[at]upenn.edu.

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