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Health: Renewed Concern About Potential Danger Of H.S. Football Following Death Of Quarterback

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There's renewed concern about the potential danger of high school football, following the death of a star quarterback in northern New Jersey.  With high school football, people usually worry about concussions or spinal injuries but the new death raises concerns about another danger that many don't know about.

Seventeen-year-old quarterback Even Murray,  from Warren County, New Jersey, walked off the field after two hard body blows during a weekend game, then he collapsed on the sideline and died later at a hospital.  "It's difficult to watch my children have to deal with it," says parent Renee Wimmer.

The autopsy showed the honors student died from a lacerated spleen and massive internal bleeding.  It also said he had an enlarged spleen.  "It's definitely shocking and upsetting. Young athletes we think they're fit and in their prime no one would expect this," says Dr. Christine Stallkamp the Medical Director of Urgent Care for Main Line Health.  She says an enlarged spline can be caused by a number of things including  mononucleosis, mono which is  a common viral infection.  Dr. Stallkamp explains, "The blood cells are affected by the infection itself which then translates into the spleen, processing those blood cells with swelling ..  anything that's going to cause that swollen spleen to  bleed can be catastrophic."

It's not known if the football player  knew about his enlarged spline or if he ever had mono. The CDC says people who've had mononucleosis should avoid contact sports.  "Often times we'll counsel young athletes much to their dismay if we diagnose them with mono, it's not safe for them to be playing contact sports," says Dr. Stallkamp.

Mono is often called the kissing disease, because it can be spread by saliva.  In children the flu like symptoms can be mild and it can go un-diagnosed.  Adults usually don't get mono, because they have immunity to the virus.

http://www.mainlinehealth.org/

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