New Delhi, Oct 5: Infants and young children are at high risk of meningitis, but in some cases it can be prevented with vaccines, experts said on the occasion of World Meningitis Day on Saturday.
World Meningitis Day is observed every year to raise awareness about this deadly and debilitating disease that develops rapidly and causes serious health problems.
It affects people of all ages in all parts of the world, but children are particularly vulnerable.
More than 5 million people contract meningitis each year, and about half of meningitis deaths are children under 5 years of age.
“Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord,” Dr Anshu Rotagi, senior neurologist at Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS.
Common symptoms of meningitis include sudden fever, severe headache, stiff shoulders, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light, confusion or difficulty concentrating, drowsiness or difficulty waking up, and skin rash (in some cases). and so on.
There are several types of meningitis, including bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, and parasitic.
Bacterial meningitis is of particular concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in six people who contract this type of meningitis will die, and one in five will have long-term disability. However, many of these deaths and disabilities are preventable with vaccines.
According to a 2023 report, India has an annual incidence of 3 to 6 infections per 100,000 people.
“Infants and young children are at high risk of meningitis,” Dr Deepak Yadav, consultant neurology, Faridabad Amrita Hospital, told IANS.
The disease is also common in people with weakened immune systems and in people living in crowded environments such as refugee camps.
Vaccines are available for some types of bacterial meningitis, including Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine.
Experts also urged hygiene practices such as regular hand washing, avoiding sharing eating utensils and covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of infection.
“If you suspect you have meningitis, it is important to seek immediate medical attention as the symptoms can be serious,” Dr Rohtagi said.
Yadav called for educating the public about the importance of early treatment to improve symptoms and outcomes.
(Content in this article has been provided by a news agency and has not been edited by the ap7am team.)
