Meningitis is a dangerous disease for human health in which inflammation of the spinal cord and brain occurs. You should definitely know how to protect yourself from meningitis. Often the disease occurs as a complication of some kind of inflammation, but it can be an independent disease. If treatment does not occur on time, there may be consequences such as deafness, epilepsy and damage to internal organs. In children, mental retardation may develop as a complication.
What kind of disease is this?
Meningitis is a contagious inflammatory disease of the membranes of the spinal cord and/or brain. The main signs of meningitis are headache, high body temperature, impaired consciousness, high light and sound sensitivity, and stiff neck.
Reference! Meningitis in children is most common, especially the number of cases increases in the autumn-winter-spring period, from November to April.
This is facilitated by conditions such as temperature fluctuations, hypothermia, limited amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, and insufficient ventilation in rooms with a large number of people.
Who is guilty?
Meningitis (inflammation of the meninges) most often affects children (especially under 5 years of age). Children make up 70% of those affected by this disease.
Meningitis can be viral and bacterial; in rare cases, fungi and protozoa can lead to its development. Viral meningitis, which has a huge number of pathogens, is the most common. As a rule, it is easier to treat.
Bacterial (purulent) meningitis also has many pathogens. Among them are meningococci, pneumococci, Hemophilus influenzae type b, streptococcal bacteria of group B. This type of disease often has more pronounced symptoms and gives dangerous complications.
Meningitis can also develop secondarily as a complication resulting from another disease, for example, mumps (mumps), tuberculosis, tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease, enterovirus infection, syphilis.
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Possible consequences
When therapy for meningitis was started at the time of the first manifestations of symptoms thanks to a timely visit to the doctor, and all necessary conditions were met throughout the illness, then the consequences of the disease will be minimal. If any instructions are violated, the results can be quite serious.
Depending on what type of meningitis has developed, one or another outcome may appear, of varying severity:
Serous meningitis rarely causes serious consequences. If the therapy was carried out efficiently, after the end of the disease after a certain time, the child will begin to feel almost fully well.- Reactive can have more dire consequences, including death. But if medical care was provided in a timely manner, then their likelihood is significantly reduced. In this case, even timely identification and treatment of the disease does not make it possible to definitely exclude the worst results.
Diagnosis and treatment
Bacterial meningitis is treated only with antibiotics and requires mandatory hospitalization. Corticosteroids also reduce brain inflammation. If you have viral meningitis, then antibiotics cannot cure the disease. In this situation, antiviral agents are used that help activate and strengthen the immune system.
If you go to a medical facility in time and receive the right treatment, you will have a better chance of completely getting rid of meningitis. Diagnosis is carried out in this way: they take a puncture of the spinal cord and do a culture.
If meningitis is not treated, there may be complications such as:
- there may be hearing loss;
- swelling of the brain most often occurs;
- renal failure develops;
- damage to internal organs may begin;
- problems will begin with joints and bones;
- The development of epilepsy with bacterial meningitis can occur, but is very rare.
To prevent such severe complications, it is necessary to promptly seek help from a doctor. He will be able to prescribe the correct treatment, which will prevent consequences, so in no case should you expect that the disease will go away on its own.
How to protect your child from meningitis?
You can protect your baby from illness by following simple principles:
Prudence and awareness of parents. In most situations, meningitis pathogens are transmitted by airborne droplets. For this reason, there is no need to take children (especially small ones!) to places where the “human sea” usually splashes - for example, to large shopping centers on weekends, to museums, theaters and circuses during school holidays, etc.- Developed hygiene skills. Many bacteria that initiate meningitis are quite weak - the simplest washing can be harmful to them.
Advice! Teach your child (of course, and don’t forget!) to wash his hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, wash his face and gargle with plain water after returning from the street, kindergarten, store, etc. - Vaccination. BCG vaccination (against tuberculous meningitis) is given to absolutely all children right in the maternity hospital. If, according to some circumstances, this did not happen, the injection will be given at the clinic in the first 2 months of the children’s life without any tests, and then only if there is a negative Mantoux reaction.
Planet Brain
But, like the Earth, the “planet” Brain also has its own powerful defense system that resists the invasion of infection - a reliable multi-layered “atmosphere” that protects it.
The section shows: directly attached to the hard “nut shell” of the skull (consisting of the strength of a plastic soap dish) is a thinner “shell” - the dura mater, forming a low bony “palate” and delimiting the main internal cavity of the skull. The next layer behind it is another one, the arachnoid mater.
And directly over the surface of the brain there is a soft (essentially vascular) brain “diaper” - pia mater (tender mother).
The “planet” has a Brain and another “shell, as it were” - cerebrospinal fluid. This is a thin layer of liquid - its own shallow “ocean” in which the brain “bathes”, an ocean that jealously and carefully washes not only its surface, but also a whole labyrinth of interconnected cavities located in the depths of it.
But the brain does not simply float in this ocean of soft cushions and hard shores, nested in its intended cavity.
No, it is “suspended” with gyroscopic precision and centered in the skull so that a concussion of the head does not lead to brain bruises on the inner surface of this hard “cerebral cortex”.
This is the “planet” Brain, the signals from which the entire complex life of the body strictly obeys and the safety of which is taken care of by this entire shock-absorbing system that protects it from damage.
Types of prevention of meningitis in children
There are no completely reliable ways to protect your baby from infection. Moreover, an effective vaccine that would significantly reduce the threat has not yet been invented. For this reason, it is advised to adhere to standard methods of prevention, and at the first symptoms of the disease, immediately consult a doctor.
Natural
- Limit children's contact with possible carriers of infection. Thus, if cases of the disease are noticed in a kindergarten or school, you need to keep the baby at home for several days.
- During the epidemic season (autumn-winter), use cotton-gauze bandages if you are in a public place.
- Remind the children that after going outside they need to immediately wash their hands with soap. If this is not possible, treat them with a disinfectant.
- Avoid traveling to regions with difficult epidemiological conditions. As a last resort, take care of purchasing special medications that protect against insects (certain types of meningitis can only be tolerated by them).
- Do not swim in open water. As the Center for Medical Prevention states, “protecting a child from meningitis will be possible by following general rules of hygiene and a cautious approach to recreational areas on the water.”
Specific
Meningococcal vaccines (vaccine of serogroups A and C, there is a quadrivalent vaccine for serogroups of meningococci A, C, Y, W-135) are not sufficiently reactogenic, safe, immunologically active, stimulate the increase in antibodies from the 5th day after a single administration and after 2 weeks the antibodies reach the maximum level.
The meningococcal vaccine is used for preventive purposes and for the purpose of urgent prevention in areas of meningococcal infection. For preventive purposes, immunization is carried out:
- According to the conclusion of the district health authorities in the zones, there is a danger of epidemic growth. Children from 1 to 8 years old are subject to vaccinations.
- If there is a sudden increase in incidence and the rate is more than 20.0 per 100,000 inhabitants, mass immunization of the entire population is carried out with coverage of at least 85%. For the purpose of urgent prevention, the vaccine is administered at the site of infection in the first 5 days after the first incident of the disease with a generalized form of meningococcal infection is detected. Persons who have been in close contact with the patient are subject to vaccination.
Chemoprophylaxis
Chemoprophylaxis is carried out for those people who have been in close contact with a patient with meningitis. For this purpose, the following is carried out:
- Rifampicin orally for two days in a row.
- Ceftriaxone intramuscularly and once.
Recommendation! When a disease appears, you need to think not about the consequences, but about the possibility of preventing them. To do this, you should go to the doctor in time and follow his instructions.
Predisposition to disease
Meningococcal infection due to pathogenic viruses and bacteria entering the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. They provoke inflammatory formations. In the course of research, scientists have found that meningitis can be contracted not only through infection from a sick person. The risk group consists of people who abuse alcohol. Illnesses such as flu or sinusitis can trigger an infection.
In medicine, there is no specific cure for this dangerous disease. Thorough methods of studying the causes of development and the general clinical picture do not allow us to find optimal treatment methods. There are cases where meningitis is a genetic predisposition. Modern technological developments in the field of medicine help alleviate the disease, but preventive measures have an undoubted advantage.
The main risk group is children under five years of age. Children who are not vaccinated in a timely manner are more susceptible to infection. The second age group that is often exposed to the disease is from 15 to 25 years. The active lifestyle of young people and a high level of sociability contribute to the massive spread of meningitis. Weakened immunity and the presence of a number of chronic diseases after 55 years of age increase the risk of getting sick by 80%.
Provoking factors leading to the development of disease from human health. People who constantly drink alcohol get sick more often. Severe fungal and bacterial infections, tuberculosis and other viral infections serve as the basis for the development of meningitis. The influence of radiation and chemical emissions, unhealthy lifestyle, and poor nutrition weaken the immune system. Doctors say that immunity is the main defense in the fight against meningococcal infection.
Are there medications that can help protect children?
There are no preventative medications for the disease. But if parents believe that the disease is approaching their child, then they can turn to antibiotics. They are considered the main way to prevent and treat meningitis in a child.
Since the microbial irritant is not always determined due to examination and diagnosis. The selection of pharmaceutical substances today is quite diverse and antibiotics have a wide range of action to eliminate various viral bacteria.
Fifty fifty
The most insidious are purulent meningitis caused by bacteria. They can develop rapidly - literally in a few hours. Sometimes doctors don’t even have time to help the patient. Therefore, it is very important to know the symptoms of meningitis and not miss them. Quite often, inflammation affects not only the membranes of the brain, but also spreads to the brain itself, that is, it develops into meningoencephalitis - a disease that is very severe and often leads to disability and even death. The disease caused by meningococcus often leads to the appearance of a specific hemorrhagic rash. If it affects large areas of the body, especially the hands and feet, dry gangrene may develop, which can lead to amputation of the limb.
The outcome of the disease depends on many factors: on the form of the pathogen, on the strength of the patient’s body, on how quickly and competently he received medical care. In 50% of cases, complete recovery occurs. But if the child had some kind of neurological pathology associated with the mother’s difficult pregnancy, with complicated childbirth, then complications may develop: swelling or cerebral infarction, which can lead to paresis - impaired motor activity, the development of epilepsy and even the death of the small patient . Meningitis can cause impairment of intelligence, memory, attention, hearing loss and even complete hearing loss. It happens that a child who has suffered meningitis at an early age develops well at first, but at school he develops problems with learning and social adaptation associated with hyperactivity and the inability to concentrate on studies.
Photo: AiF
Graft
Are children vaccinated against meningitis?
Vaccination against meningitis is not included in the standard list of vaccinations in the Russian Federation. In total, doctors note about 90 types of varieties of this disease on the planet, but only 15 of them can be fatal, which affects up to 80% of children.
It is transmitted by airborne droplets , so no one can be protected from meningitis without vaccination. The vast majority of experts believe that a child should certainly be vaccinated against this serious disease. This will protect him from serious illness. The vaccine is especially needed if the child will go to kindergarten or attend large gatherings of children of his age.
Don't skimp on your child's health!
Much to our disappointment, the Ministry of Health of our country does not agree with this issue, since the vaccination against meningitis has not yet been mandatory. But this may soon change dramatically.
Expert opinion
Zemlyanukhina Tatyana Vyacheslavovna
Ambulance and emergency paramedic at the Clinical Emergency Hospital #7 in Volgograd.
Ask an expert
Despite the fact that compulsory vaccination is not prescribed at the legislative level, parents should take care of their child’s health on their own. The effectiveness of the vaccine reaches 90%, the formation of immunity takes no more than a week, and the effect lasts for 3-5 years.
At what age should children be vaccinated?
Depending on your region of residence, the vaccination period may vary greatly . In Russia, children are vaccinated against this terrible disease only at the age of two years, but in neighboring Ukraine, children are given the vaccine at the age of:
3;- 4;
- 5 months.
But at the age of 18 months they carry out revaccination. If the child is as active and friendly as possible, and not a homebody, then it is best to vaccinate him at the age of 1.5 years. This will strengthen his immunity to serious illness just at the moment when he begins to actively run and play.
Now you know at what age a child is vaccinated against meningitis.
Do they do it for up to a year?
This question is quite difficult to answer, since in fact it all depends not on the personal preferences of the doctor, but only on the type of vaccine used .
Some foreign drugs that have undergone clinical trials make it possible to vaccinate children who have not reached the age of one year, but most doctors do not recommend using the vaccine at this age, since it will be meaningless. The thing is that the mother's milk that is fed to the baby contains all the necessary microelements that help protect and maintain the baby's immunity at the proper level.
Starting from the age of 1.5 years, the effect of this natural phenomenon disappears, so the child is left alone with viral diseases, and it is precisely at this moment that it is necessary to support his health with the help of a vaccine.
Where is it held?
Unfortunately, children are not vaccinated against meningitis in regular clinics or hospitals . For this purpose, there are special private clinics that specialize in this particular area of activity.
IMPORTANT ! There is no need to choose a cheaper vaccine. The main thing is the child’s health, so it is best to agree to the option suggested by the attending physician.
Such private clinics can be found in almost every major city. You can find out more about them at the city hospital, where doctors will refer parents to the address.
How long does the action last?
Again, it all depends only on the vaccine itself .
But, despite this fact, many experts recommend revaccination every three years. The thing is that some drugs do not use as a basis the virus itself in small proportions, which is absorbed in the body, but the immune system finds an element of fight against this disease. Many drugs, on the contrary, are based on antibodies, which leave the body over time.
Possible side effects
Often, the vast majority of children tolerate meningitis vaccination stably and without any visible consequences. Minor complications may occur, but they cannot compare with the severity of the disease itself.
Common complications include:
- Fever.
- Slight redness at the grafting sites.
- Drowsiness.
This is a small price to pay for a healthy child.
Vaccine names and prices
Among the wide variety of meningitis vaccinations for children, in our country you can find only a few basic drugs that are used by private companies. The names of the vaccines are as follows:
- The meningococcal vaccine is produced by Russian experts. The composition includes serogroups A and C, which allow you to develop immunity to meningococci. The average price on the market reaches 1400 rubles.
- The “Meningo A + C” vaccination is produced in France, therefore it is considered to be of higher quality. The main composition of serogroups A and C allows protection against cerebrospinal meningitis. Intended for children over 18 months. The average cost reaches 2,200 rubles.
- “Mencevax ACWY” is produced by a joint company from Belgium and the UK. Thanks to its serogroup components, ACWY allows the formation of bactericidal antibodies. Intended for children over two years old. The average cost is about 3,100 rubles.
- “Menactra” is produced by a company from the USA and is considered to be the highest quality today. It includes serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. Allows you to actively produce antibodies to fight the disease. Recommended for use by children over two years of age and adults up to 55 years of age. The average cost on the market reaches 3,500 rubles.
Alarming symptoms
The insidiousness of meningitis also lies in the fact that it begins like the familiar flu or ARVI. The child's temperature rises sharply (up to 38-40°C), he may complain of chills, pain throughout the body, as well as a severe headache. And it is the headache that should alert you, because in ordinary life it rarely occurs in children. The child also dislikes light and touching the skin. He becomes lethargic and sleeps a lot or, conversely, begins to cry and be capricious. The baby may also experience vomiting, seizures and a rash in the form of pink spots. Usually the rash appears on the legs, then spreads to the torso and arms. Over time, it acquires a dark red (even black) tint and becomes like irregularly shaped stars. Keep in mind that with meningitis, time is against the patient! The sooner a child with such a dangerous disease gets into the hands of doctors, the higher the chance of his full recovery.
Clinical picture
The onset of the disease is characterized by an acute onset - from several hours to 1-5 days. Against the background of fever (39-40 °C), severe pain in the head, general malaise, weakness, chills, photophobia, and repeated vomiting occur - 1-2 days. Intense pain appears in the neck, spine, and limbs (40%). In 30% of cases, seizures may develop. Meningeal signs appear within a few hours after the onset of the disease, increasing by 2-3 days. After a few days, skin rashes may appear on the lips and throughout the body.
An objective examination reveals hyperthermia, intense cerebral symptoms, general hyperesthesia, and meningeal signs (90%). In 80% of cases, motor agitation is noted, in 75% there is a change in the level of consciousness, and in 30% there are convulsive episodes. The phenomena of nasopharyngitis are detected in 40% of patients, herpetic rashes in the area of the lips and nose - in 60%, hemorrhagic rash on the skin - in 40%, hypertonicity, nystagmus - in 50%.
