Be aware of college meningitis menace

Q: My son is enrolled at a small college in Vermont, and I heard that there was an outbreak of meningitis on East Coast college campuses. He’s had a lot of his vaccinations, but what is available to protect him from this? — Sharon S., Syracuse, New York

A: All parents of teens should talk to their kids’ doc about getting the

Menb vaccine, which has been available since 2014. The preferred age for vaccination is 16 to 18, but anytime after that is fine, too.

Menb is the strain of meningitis that’s recently been spreading through some college campuses.

If your son is up on his vaccinations, he’s probably protected against the most common strains of meningitis (A, C, W and Y). If not, then he should arrange to get those vaccinations, as well as the one covering B.

The good news is that cases of meningitis in the U.S. are at record lows. The bad news is that between 10 and 15 percent of the cases that do happen turn out to be fatal, and up to 20 percent cause the infected person lasting disabilities.

Q: I heard that smoke from wildfires is worse for you than cigarette smoke. We’re being blanketed with it. What’s the best way to limit exposure and still have a life? — Jason P., Seattle

A: First of all, Jason, cigarette smoke is a lot worse for you than the smoke that you are experiencing in the air over Seattle, and that’s generally true for the millions of folks in the U.S. and Canada who are affected.

But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t harmful chemicals and particulate matter in the wildfire smoke.

Particulate matter can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, and that ups the risk for heart attack and stroke.

In addition, there are toxic chemicals like nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde and benzene in the wildfire smoke.

That’s why smoky air is especially risky for people with respiratory diseases, asthma or heart problems.

As for you and your neighbors, if you opt for a mask when you go outside, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a Niosh-approved N95 or a P100 respirator. They remove 90 to 95 percent of pollutants.

Still, check for air-quality alerts (there’s an app for that) before you head out, and don’t let a mask lull you into a false sense of security.

Stick with indoor exercise — no outdoor aerobics in smoky air! And keep an eye on elderly neighbors to make sure they are well and, if stuck inside, that they’re fed and hydrated.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.