Meningitis in the summer months is a concern for many people, especially those who are vulnerable to infections. While meningitis can occur year-round, the hot season provides ideal conditions for pathogens to multiply and develop.
Meningitis is a severe central nervous system infection that can be life-threatening or leave long-lasting effects. Bacterial groups such as pneumococcus, meningococcus, and Hib are common causes of meningitis, with effective vaccines available for prevention.
Pneumococcal meningitis has one of the highest mortality rates among bacterial meningitis and can cause serious sequelae. In Vietnam, pneumococcus is the leading cause of meningitis, with more than 50% of cases being caused by this bacterial group. The disease progresses quickly and can lead to death if not treated promptly. About 30-50% of people who recover from pneumococcal meningitis face serious sequelae like deafness, blindness, paralysis, epilepsy, mental retardation, poor memory, and persistent headaches.
Vaccination is an active prevention measure for pneumococcal meningitis and its complications. Vaccines have up to 97% effectiveness in preventing pneumococcal infection and its complications. They help reduce hospitalization rates, shorten treatment time, lower medical costs compared to non-vaccinated groups and aid in reducing the percentage of healthy people carrying the infection in the community. Early vaccination is recommended for children as young as two months old to protect them from this potentially deadly disease.
Meningococcus bacteria also cause severe illness with a high mortality rate. In Vietnam, all age groups are susceptible to meningococcus infection with children under five years old being at higher risk. Group B is one of the most common strains of meningococcus in Vietnam and has a single shot vaccine that provides up to 95% protection.
In conclusion, while there are many ways to prevent or treat meningitis during the summer months when it occurs sporadically all year round; it’s essential to take proactive measures like vaccinations early on so that we can reduce our risks significantly against these diseases.