The university health services nurse is preparing a disease prevention program for college students. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the program?
A Living in the dorm increases one's risk of developing meningococcal disease.
B There are no antiviral medications that can treat meningococcal outbreaks.
C A vaccine for meningococcal disease has not been developed.
D The mortality rate from meningococcal disease is very low.
A Living in the dorm increases one's risk of developing meningococcal disease.
The nurse should include this information in the program because it is important for college students to be aware that living in close quarters, such as dormitories, increases their risk of developing meningococcal disease. This is because the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease can spread more easily in crowded living spaces. By knowing this, students can take necessary precautions and be proactive in preventing the spread of the disease.
The nurse should include the following information in the program:
A) Living in the dorm increases one's risk of developing meningococcal disease.
Living in close quarters, such as a dormitory, can increase the risk of meningococcal disease due to the close contact and sharing of personal items.
B) There are no antiviral medications that can treat meningococcal outbreaks.
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria, not a virus, so antiviral medications would not be effective in treating the disease.
C) A vaccine for meningococcal disease has been developed.
There are vaccines available for meningococcal disease, which can help prevent infection and decrease the risk of outbreaks.
D) The mortality rate from meningococcal disease is very low.
Although meningococcal disease can be severe and even fatal, especially if not treated promptly, the overall mortality rate is relatively low. However, immediate medical attention is crucial in order to reduce the risk of complications and death.
To determine which information should be included in the disease prevention program for college students, we need to assess the relevance and accuracy of each option.
A. "Living in the dorm increases one's risk of developing meningococcal disease." This information is important to include because it highlights a specific risk factor that college students should be aware of. Meningococcal disease is known to spread rapidly in close quarters such as dormitories.
B. "There are no antiviral medications that can treat meningococcal outbreaks." This statement is incorrect. Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterial infection, not a viral infection, and it can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Therefore, this information should not be included in the program as it could mislead students.
C. "A vaccine for meningococcal disease has not been developed." This statement is incorrect. There are vaccines available to protect against certain strains of meningococcal disease, especially the most common ones. The nurse should include information about the availability of vaccines and their importance in preventing the disease.
D. "The mortality rate from meningococcal disease is very low." This statement is partially true. While the mortality rate for meningococcal disease has generally decreased with advances in medical care, it can still be a serious and potentially fatal condition if not promptly treated. The nurse should emphasize the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms develop.
Based on this assessment, the nurse should include information A (Living in the dorm increases one's risk of developing meningococcal disease) and C (A vaccine for meningococcal disease has been developed) in the disease prevention program. Information B (There are no antiviral medications that can treat meningococcal outbreaks) is incorrect and should not be included. Information D (The mortality rate from meningococcal disease is very low) is partially true and can be included with the clarification that prompt medical attention is crucial.