Archive for the ‘Immunizing’ Category
Immunizing children against meningitis
Before the beginning of the seasonality of bacterial meningitis, high infection rate and mortality, experts warned of the need to take precautions to prevent its spread against the most common bacterial agents: meningococcal and pneumococcal. In that sense, the Scientific Committee on Vaccination argued that vaccination is the most proven way to prevent and recommended.
It is a disease that is spread from person to person by direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva, as hand hygiene and cleaning of objects decrease the transmission, the method being preventive vaccination.
The official schedule of immunizations including vaccines to prevent some causes of meningitis, but the injection meningococcal coverage applies only to state in children at increased risk of acquiring the disease, in private or with partial coverage from some insurance plans and prepaid.
Meningococcal disease is a serious public health problem in the world and one of the ten major human diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this disease causes approximately 500 000 cases and about 50 000 deaths a year.
Mortality from meningitis in the world is 10%, while 15% of people suffering after-effects of sensory type, where deafness is the most common. Also may have abnormal motor and intellectual deficits.
Meningitis is a disease caused by inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) mainly affects children between two months and one year, causing serious illnesses such as meningitis and septicemia.
As for the characteristic symptoms, the disease is characterized by sudden onset of headache, fever and stiff neck, sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia and / or altered mental status.
In infants and children under one year, the disease may manifest with nonspecific symptoms such as change in behavior, feeding, irritability and fever. As a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention, prevention is key to prevent infection.
With regard to preventive recommendations, experts suggest:
• meningococcal vaccination for children from two months of life
• Breastfeeding for at least the first six months.
• Take care of cleaning and personal and environmental hygiene and proper ventilation of rooms
• Avoid sharing cups, eating utensils, pacifiers with other children.