Recently, information on outbreaks of meningitis is not uncommon in one or another locality. This information is very frightening to parents. How to insure your child from this terrible disease? Is there anything that can reliably protect against meningitis?
Insidious disease of meningitis - inflammation of the membranes of the brain, can cause both viruses and bacteria. The most dangerous is a disease caused by the following types of bacteria:
- hemophilia;
- meningococcal;
- pneumococcal.
Hemophilic rod can cause purulent meningitis. Transmitted through the air from a sick person or carrier infection to a healthy one. There is evidence that a third of diseases of purulent meningitis in children of preschool age are caused precisely by this rod. Hemophilic meningitis is very poorly treated, because its causative agent is resistant to antibiotics.
Meningococcal infection is transmitted in the same way as hemophilia. Babies up to a year are most vulnerable to this infection. In Russia, the incidence is single. Mortality among children is 9%. The disease proceeds swiftly. From the first symptoms to the lethal outcome - less than a day.
Pneumococcal infection. The method of infection is similar to the previous ones. The most vulnerable to infection are small children. Pneumococcal infection is difficult to treat, resistant to most antibiotics.
Immunizations from meningitis to children
A program was developed to prevent this terrible disease with vaccines. WHO recommends that children be vaccinated against a hemophilic infection. Slightly less than 90 countries around the world are carrying out this immunization. Where vaccination is mandatory, outbreaks of meningitis do not practically occur. The effectiveness of vaccination is assessed at least 95%.
Vaccination against other types of bacteria is recommended if an outbreak occurs. If the family is a person who has fallen ill with this form of meningitis, if the child is taken to a place where the risk of infection will be quite high.
In Russia, vaccination against meningitis can be done only in paid and commercial centers. It is allowed to use one of the foreign vaccines, which contains only parts of the microbial wall. In Russia, the vaccination against hemophilia is not included in the vaccination plan. The reason for this is the high price of the vaccine. Domestic vaccine against hemophilic infection at the moment does not exist. Against meningococcal bacteria in Russia, our country has its own vaccines, and a foreign vaccine has been approved for use. They all contain polysaccharides.
Against meningitis caused by the pneumococcal bacterium in Russia is allowed to use the vaccine Pnevma 23. Do it to children from 2 years of age once. It is recommended for all children who are often ill with colds.
In Ukraine, the vaccination against haemophilus infection is on the vaccination calendar . It is performed at 3, 4, 5 months of age and is fixed at 18 months of age.
Inoculation of meningitis - complications
Usually, vaccinations against meningitis are well tolerated by the vast majority of children. Complications after vaccination are rare, and complications after them are incomparable with the disease itself. Usually you can observe a slight increase in temperature, redness in the place of vaccination, irritability, drowsiness. But all these symptoms pass quickly enough.
Vaccination against meningitis - contraindications
Contraindication to vaccination against meningitis is a child's disease, or a complication of the existing chronic disease. Also, vaccinations are not given to those children who have an allergy to vaccine components after the first vaccination.
Vaccination against meningitis - consequences
If you still can not decide whether to do a vaccination against meningitis to your child, then maybe the information about the complications of meningitis who have been ill with meningitis will change your decision. In unvaccinated children, the disease is in severe form. A child who has recovered from meningitis may become blind or deaf. He may have cramps. There may be a violation of neuropsychological development.
Now that you have enough information, weigh all the pros and cons and make the right choice. Remember that you are solving the issue of your child's life and health.