Thirty students a day are rolling up their sleeves for meningitis shots at Vanderbilt University, after reports that college students nationwide are at increased risk for the life-threatening infection. The infection causes inflammation of the meninges, or membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and can attack other body tissues. Meningitis has been associated with crowded living conditions, as well as with smoking and stress, which can reduce the body's immunity to infection, health officials said. The infection, while not as contagious as the cold or flu, can be spread by coughing, kissing or sharing water bottles.
Most cases are sporadic rather than in clusters.
The American College Health Association recommends that college students consider getting vaccinated to reduce the risk of meningococcal disease. And the incidence of it has been increasing. Seven of last year's cases occurred in Tennesseans ages 18-24, but Craig said he did not know how many were college students, or whether there were any deaths. A student at Nashville's Lipscomb University who lives in Williamson County was hospitalized with bacterial meningitis earlier this fall, but has since recovered, health officials said. Reactions to the rise in meningitis vary among area colleges.