MenW, mumps and mono: a guide to student sickness

Young people are being urged to get vaccinated against meningitis W. Now accounting for a quarter of all meningitis infections in England, there has been a rapid rise in cases of this strain, with a corresponding increase in fatalities, and university campuses can act as petri dishes for a host of infectious diseases. Here is a selection:

Measles and mumps

Most festival-goers this summer just hoped to have a working pop-up tent and sufficient dry shampoo. But Public Health England has confirmed a significant number of measles infections linked to music festivals and other large public events, with 38 suspected cases at events in June and July alone. Tellingly, the Vaccines weren’t playing. In the US, by the time of Harvard’s 26 May commencement ceremony this year, there were 59 confirmed cases of mumps on campus, with 713 cases throughout England last year.

Usual symptoms include headaches, fever, joint pains and the hamster face of parotid gland swelling. Rarely, complications can lead to meningitis, pancreatitis and hearing loss. Testicles can swell to up to four times normal size and 10% of men have a drop in sperm count. However, this is rarely significant enough to cause infertility.

Glandular fever

Glandular fever – also called infectious mononucleosis, mono, or “the kissing disease” can turn a romantic afternoon into a fortnight with a sore throat, swollen glands, a fever and the voice of Phil Mitchell. Apart from kissing, it can also be spread through exposure to coughing and sneezing, as well as sharing eating and drinking utensils.

One in four people develop glandular fever at some point. If you get it, rest, take paracetamol if needed, avoid alcohol, and avoid contact sports for three weeks to decrease the risk of your spleen rupturing.

Syphilis and other STIs

Any condition that causes chancres and condylomata lata (ulceration and wart-like lesions) is best avoided. These two things are not pretty. Syphilis is a condition of blame and border disputes – Italians, Germans and the British named syphilis “the French disease”, the French named it “the Neapolitan disease”, the Russians called it “the Polish disease”, and the Polish named it “the German disease”.

The most commonly diagnosed STI in England last year was chlamydia, with 200,288 cases. Meanwhile, rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea continued to rise (proportional increases of 20% and 11% respectively). Those aged 16-24 experienced the highest rates of chlamydia, genital herpes and genital warts – not quite the freshers’ society they planned to join. Nowadays, a shot or two of penicillin should cure syphilis – so there’s no need to bear responsibility for creating a flashmob of syphilitic students.

Stay safe. Also, wear sunscreen.

MenW, mumps and mono: a guide to student sickness