How do you choose Meningococcal meningitis vaccination? When does your child need it?If these are questions that have worried you then read on.
Meningitis is a scary disease and Meningococcal meningitis is the bad boy of all meningitis. But unlike in movies when the hero can save you every time, Meningococcal meningitis behaves like Thanos of Avengers Infinity War. It has a destructive course. As a parent and doctor, protection with a vaccine is my way of prevention and I recommend this course of action to every parent so that this dangerous disease is kept at bay.
Meningococcal meningitis can kill
Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is a rare but potentially devastating bacterial infection. Despite advances in medical care, the disease can kill in a matter of hours! (7) One strain is known to cause horrific disability and mortality in up to 50% cases.
As mothers know, when children start playschool or nursery school, the chances of getting infected are higher. Even in other age groups, overcrowding increases the chances of infection. If someone in the household is infected or is a carrier, it puts other members of the family at risk.
Since you cannot avoid places or situations, the best way to protect against deadly diseases is a vaccination.(1,4,5)
Apart from that, you can also look out for the symptoms of Meningococcal meningitis, which are similar to the common cold and hence easily dismissed by parents. What are these symptoms? Fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, and confusion.(6)
I know the above sounds scary but when we became parents, scary was something that came with the bundle of joy. The point of this is not to scare you but to make you aware.
Start early and give your child Meningococcal meningitis vaccine
First and foremost, I must stress to all parents that Meningococcal meningitis is a serious infection with a very high mortality rate, hence the need to protect against it is greater.
I know there have been talks about the efficacy of vaccines but they are here for our protection and they help us to fight deadly diseases. And I say this as a mother and a doctor, if protection is available, I will take that option and tell my patients the same.
To protect against Meningococcal disease I tell my patients and parents to vaccinate children as young as 9 months old. Talk to your pediatrician and schedule a vaccination.(4,5)
Vaccines are good
In our quest for a healthy and safe upbringing for our children, we need to stay alert. I tell all parents to be armed with the correct information about fever, cold and everything in between and not to fall prey to rumors and gossip.
We will do anything to protect our children from harm and getting them vaccinated against deadly diseases is the right step towards that goal.
Join the movement against Meningococcal meningitis today!
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Brand Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views solely of the blogger. This is a part of public awareness initiative on meningitis supported by Sanofi Pasteur India. Sanofi Pasteur bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health related information. This article is meant to help create awareness and spread knowledge. Any decision regarding your health and child’s health should be done after consultation with your doctor. While all efforts are made to keep articles updated, the speed of research in these fields mean the information often may change when more research knowledge is available. Healthwealthbridge or the authors should be in no way held responsible in that case.
References:
1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005;54:1-21.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html
2) 2. Granoff DM, Harrison D, Borrow R. Meningococcal Vaccines. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, editors. Vaccines. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. p. 399-434.
3. Pelton SI, Gilmet GP. Expanding prevention of invasive meningococcal disease. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2009; 8:717-27.
4) Safety and Immunogenicity of a Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MenACYW-DT): A Multicenter, Open-label, Non-randomized, Phase III Clinical Trial
*Sangeeta Yadav, #MV Manglani, $DH Ashwath Narayan, #S Sharma, $HS Ravish, ^R Arora, ‡V Bosch Castells, *S Arya, and ‡P Oste
https://www.indianpediatrics.net/june2014/june-451-456.htm
5) CDC. Meningococcal disease – Medical conditions risk factors. Accessed February 2019.
https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/risk-medical.html
6) 4. Sinclair D, Preziosi MP, Jacob John T, Greenwood B. The epidemiology of meningococcal disease in India. Trop Med Int Health. 2010;15:1421-35.
7) Mechanism of meningeal invasion by Neisseria meningitidis
Mathieu Coureuil, 1, 2 Olivier Join-Lambert, 1, 2, 3 Hervé Lécuyer, 1, 2, 3 Sandrine Bourdoulous, 2, 4, 5 Stefano Marullo, 2, 4, 5 and Xavier Nassif 1
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3396695/
8) https://www.indianpediatrics.net/dec2013/dec-1095-1108.htm
9.Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
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Once I am a parent I am going to re read all of these posts to give proper and timely medication to my newborn.
That would be a good thing to do I think,
Agree that awareness regarding meningococcal meningitis and it’s precautions becomes need of today. Vaccine is good way to combat it
Yes, that’s what I feel too.
Lovely information. Vaccines are such life savers and this one is so important to protect against meningitis.
Yes .I think so too.
My daughters are done with this vaccine but today I came to know details about that. It’s really very informative post, well described.
Thanks Preety
Vaccination is very important and really helpful. I didn’t know meningitis is so dangerous. Thank you for making me aware about this!
Awareness is very important.
Informative post , vaccinations are must , and i am a firm believer of the same coz i feel its the most trusted precaution
Read about this vaccine on your profile only and then I read the detailed post on your blog and I approached my doctor and asked after this vaccine this post is still on Always On My Mind no kidding
I wonder why its not recommended by government hospitals as a mandatory vaccine. I recently got to know about this. And I am going to get both my kids vaccinated against this disease.
Meningitis is indeed a killer and protection through timely and proper vaccination a must. It is imperative that people are aware of this bacterial infection that can be fatal and take adequate precautions. Your post provides a wealth of information on the subject.
Glad you found this helpful Sandy.
That’s very informative post, indeed vaccinations are important for kids.thankz for sharing.
It’s better to give vaccinations to kids for such diseases and keep them protected.
Vaccination is something must to prevent deadly diseases . I’m glad that my parents have done a wonderful job here ????
I’ve seen that many parents are unaware of Meningitis in kids and more so this bacterial meningitis. It’s time to create awareness and help them know the importance of vaccination against meningiococcal meningitis.
This is such an informative article. Vaccinations are really important for preventing this disease. The awareness about this disease will help reduce its occurrence and prevent more people.
This is such in important post. Sometimes we just overlook few symptoms or just work according to our self certified products
This information is so critical and vital for all the parents, I am sure many don’t know about it at all
With symptoms as confusing as common cold or that of a flu it becomes tough for parents to locate the issue
However, being alert and know everything about meningitis helps a lot.
We are often very ignorant when it comes to proper vaccination at the right time for kids. Its high time we become aware to fight against deadly diseases like meningcoccal meningitis in kids.
Yes .That’s why awareness will help hopefully.
I still know some parents who do not even give basic vaccinations for their children. … Vaccinations against any disease is a must. .
Yes.The awareness is important.
This is such a scary disease. Always good to get vaccinated in time.
yes true.
A very relevant and timely post.
Thanks, Abhijit.
This is such an informative post for every parent. If vaccination is available for such a deadly disease, parents should definitely consider giving it to their kids.
Yes .that’s why awareness is crucial.
Great post with useful information. yes! meningitis is a severe infection that affect lives of so many children. its really great that nowadays vaccinations are available to protect our kids against it.
Yes .That’s a blessing indeed.
No doubt this is a deadly disease. You have provided great stats about the disease along with precaution measures. I have given this vaccine to my kid also.
Thats good to know.
Meningococcal meningitis can kill, and we should be aware about the vaccination that is available to all. We need to work together against this deadly disease
True. I feel the same way.
I really appreciate the in-depth and informative medical posts you write. I also believe that vaccinations are extremely important for children. We have given this one to our son.
That’s very good to know. When did you give?
These sort of awareness is really needed. Many parents are unaware of meningococcal meningitis and skip the vaccination at the right time.
Awareness will help many people I feel.
It is very important that as parents we are aware about Meningitis and we get our children vaccinated at the right time.
True Jhilmil.
Vaccination is really important for kids. I had no clue about this disease. I will pass this information to friends who have kids.
Awareness will help someone I hope. Thanks Khushboo.
That was so much of useful information here. Every parent should be aware of such diseases and take necessary precautions.
Thanks Reetuparna.I sure hope so.
Vaccination is necessary to prevent such deadly diseases in future. Recently, my friend got her child vaccinated to stay safe in future.
Yes true.
Great advice for sure!
Thanks Martha
I was a firm believer in vaccinations when I was raising my son (now an adult)and made sure he received all necessary vaccinations. As an adult, I get the recommended vaccinations in our country for flu, and have received my pneumonia shot. Vaccinations are a blessing. There can be side effects, true, but the good so outweighs the bad.
Yes. The choice and awareness is crucial I feel.