Student Expected to Recover from a Serious Case of Meningitis
Scott Riley was given only a 10 percent chance of making it when he arrived at the emergency room on September 24 with dropping blood pressure and failing organs.
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October 7, 2009
A 19-year-old sophomore at Virginia Tech is expected to make a full recovery after contracting bacterial meningitis, an infection which proves fatal in some cases, his doctor says.
Scott Riley was given only a 10 percent chance of making it when he arrived at the emergency room on September 24 with dropping blood pressure and failing organs. As such, he is keenly aware of the miraculous nature of his survival and wants to use it as an opportunity to educate others not to ignore warning signs, according to Roanoke.com.
The young man already has plans for how he will thrive once the ordeal is behind him. An avid fisherman, the fisheries science major hopes to finish his degree and work on restoration efforts of the Chesapeake Bay.
Bacterial meningitis affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year, of whom 10-12 percent die, according to the National Meningitis Association. Some of its symptoms - such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue - are generic enough that it is easy to mistake them for a stomach virus. However, doctors say if a rash accompanies symptoms, and they are getting worse, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
In order to minimize the chances of contracting the disease, individuals at risk - especially those living in college dormitories - should be inoculated with MCV4, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine known as Menactra.
The Centers for Disease Control offers comprehensive information about symptoms, treatments and prevention of bacterial meningitis.
A 19-year-old sophomore at Virginia Tech is expected to make a full recovery after contracting bacterial meningitis, an infection which proves fatal in some cases, his doctor says.
Scott Riley was given only a 10 percent chance of making it when he arrived at the emergency room on September 24 with dropping blood pressure and failing organs. As such, he is keenly aware of the miraculous nature of his survival and wants to use it as an opportunity to educate others not to ignore warning signs, according to Roanoke.com.
The young man already has plans for how he will thrive once the ordeal is behind him. An avid fisherman, the fisheries science major hopes to finish his degree and work on restoration efforts of the Chesapeake Bay.
Bacterial meningitis affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year, of whom 10-12 percent die, according to the National Meningitis Association. Some of its symptoms - such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue - are generic enough that it is easy to mistake them for a stomach virus. However, doctors say if a rash accompanies symptoms, and they are getting worse, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
In order to minimize the chances of contracting the disease, individuals at risk - especially those living in college dormitories - should be inoculated with MCV4, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine known as Menactra.
The Centers for Disease Control offers comprehensive information about symptoms, treatments and prevention of bacterial meningitis.
