Keep Meningitis from Spreading Meningitis cannot be spread by casual contact. You can not catch it from being in the same room with someone who has it. It is spread by direct contact with body fluids. Body fluids come from coughing, sneezing and kissing. It can also be spread by touching body fluids from someone who has it and then touching your food, nose or mouth. Using good hand washing and other good health practices can help keep meningitis from spreading. Here are some good tips to follow: ●
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Wash your and your child’s hands often. Use warm water and soap and scrub for at least 10 seconds. Or, you may use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. When your child has a cold, keep him or her away from other children, especially babies. Teach your child: to cover his or her mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing ❍
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to cough and sneeze into a tissue and then throw the tissue away in a trash can to not share cups, glasses or eating utensils with others
When your child has meningitis, keep him or her home from day care or school until your doctors tells you it is OK to let your child go back.
If someone that you or your child has had contact with comes down with meningitis, call your child’s doctor or local health department right away and tell them. That person may need an antibiotic or vaccine, depending on the type of meningitis your child has.
©2006-13 P&H Assoc., Inc This handout is for information only and is not meant to replace your doctors advice or treatment.
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