Meningitis is a serious infectious disease that, in the absence of timely medical care, can lead to the death of the patient. The disease mainly develops in people with weakened immune systems: children, elderly people, HIV-infected people, cancer patients. Therefore, many parents are interested in whether it is possible to protect their child from this disease. On at the moment Vaccination against meningitis is the only reliable method of preventing infection. It is worth considering in more detail the features of vaccination and how necessary it is.

Why is meningitis dangerous?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord infectious origin. The disease is characterized by rapid development - in the absence of medical care, the patient may lose vision and hearing within 24 hours. The cause of meningitis is the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus, and pneumococcus into the brain with blood. In newborns, the causative agent of infection can also be Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus.

Important! Meningitis in 60% of cases has viral nature, in such cases infectious process provoked by Coxsackie or ECHO viruses.

Source of the disease

The source of infection is sick people who have clinically pronounced signs of the disease, and carriers of the pathogen. How to identify infected patients and carriers meningococcal infection? People who secrete meningococcus can usually be detected during a mass examination of the source of infection, during the taking of smears from the nasopharyngeal mucosa as part of medical examinations. It is impossible to clinically determine the carrier of meningococcal infection, because the person does not have any signs of the disease.

Important! The risk of contracting meningitis in patients who have had meningitis or been vaccinated is 0.1%.

Symptoms and danger of the disease

The first symptoms of meningitis are similar to the common cold, which complicates diagnosis. An infectious disease leads to an increase in body temperature, the development of a severe headache, vomiting and nausea. In some cases on skin a hemorrhagic rash appears.

The danger of meningitis lies in the possibility of developing cerebral edema and secondary encephalitis (infection of brain tissue). As a result, meningoencephalitis develops, which is characterized by severe neurological symptoms. It persists for a long time after recovery and often becomes a cause of disability for the patient.

However, the greatest danger is posed by a brain abscess that occurs as a consequence of secondary bacterial meningitis against the background of pathologies of the ENT organs (sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis). The pathology provokes the development of cerebral edema and displacement of the midline structures. Therefore, patients need not only drug treatment, but also surgical intervention.

Who needs immunization?

The infectious disease is more common in childhood, which is associated with an imperfect immune system. Meningitis is diagnosed in adults against the background of immunodeficiency states: elderly people, HIV-infected people, during chemotherapy. Therefore, vaccination against meningitis is indicated for the following groups of patients:

• Children who were born prematurely;
• Children and adults who have frequent seasonal respiratory infections;
• Children under 2 years old;
• Families with more than 1 child;
• Children who have been bottle-fed or mixed-fed since birth;
• Patients with advanced dental pathologies;
• A history of recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis, sinusitis;
• Medical and laboratory staff;
• Children who regularly attend children's groups (kindergarten, early development groups, dances);
• Patients with severe immunodeficiency conditions (HIV-infected, cancer patients);
• Conscripts and students who will live in the dormitory;
• People with severe cardiovascular pathologies;
• Travelers and tourists who go to regions with a high probability of infection;
• Patients who have had their spleen removed or have anatomical defects of the skull;
• People who have been in contact with infected patients or carriers of meningococcal infection, Haemophilus influenzae.

Important! Vaccination against meningitis in children helps reduce the risk of developing acute respiratory infections. Therefore, vaccination is indicated for children who are often ill.

On the territory of many developed countries Vaccination against meningitis became mandatory, which made it possible to almost completely overcome the infection. Vaccination against meningitis is not included in the National Vaccination Calendar in Russia due to the high cost of vaccine preparations. Therefore, free immunization of the population is carried out only in the following cases:

• The development of an epidemic when the incidence rate exceeds 20 patients per 100 thousand people;
• If a child is found in the group who is suspected of having meningitis. In this case, vaccination against meningitis is necessary for children in contact with it;
• The patient lives in a region with high level morbidity;
• A child with severe immunodeficiency.

In other cases, parents and patients must independently purchase vaccine preparations from the pharmacy chain.

Features of vaccination

The following features of immunoprophylaxis are distinguished:

• Haemophilus influenzae infection is characterized by severe course, complications often develop. Mostly children aged 5-6 years old suffer from Haemophilus influenzae. The effectiveness of the vaccine reaches 95%, revaccination leads to an exponential increase in the number of antibodies;
• Pneumococci cause meningitis in children under 2 years of age and patients over 65 years of age. The disease is often combined with pneumonia. Mass immunoprophylaxis can reduce the risk of developing infection by 80%;
• The development of meningococcal infection is observed mainly in infants under 1 year of age. The causative agent is meningococci types A, B, C, W-135, Y. Vaccination against meningococcal infection helps to form an immune response in 90% of cases, the duration of which varies from 2 to 10 years.

Types of Vaccines

There is no single vaccine against all meningitis pathogens. This is due to the characteristics of bacteria and viruses that trigger the infectious process.

Vaccines against meningococci

Vaccine preparations help cope with meningococci of half groups A, C, W-135, Y. The following vaccines are allowed in Russia:

• Meningococcal vaccine produced in Russia. Allows protection against meningococci serotypes A and C, but does not prevent the development of purulent meningococcal infection. Use is allowed from 1.5 years, after 3 years revaccination is required;
• Meningo A+C made in France. The drug prevents the development of cerebrospinal meningitis. Widely used in adults and children over 1.5 years old;
• Mencevax ACWY (Belgium). The drug reduces the risk of developing meningococcal infection caused by meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y. Use for vaccination of children over 2 years of age and adults is allowed;
• Menactra (USA). Vaccination allows you to build immunity to pathogens that are included in serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in children over 2 years of age and adults up to 55 years of age.

Vaccines against meningococcal infection are produced in the form of a dry substance, which should be diluted immediately before administration with a solvent. The drug is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

Haemophilus influenzae vaccine

The vaccine drug ACT - Hib, approved in Russia, will help prevent the development of hemophilus influenzae infection. It is created on the basis of particles of the cell wall of the pathogen. The vaccine is produced in the form of a lyophilisate – a dry powder. Immediately before administration, the drug is diluted with a solvent or other vaccine preparation. Tetracoccus is used quite often, which is aimed at creating immunity in a child to whooping cough, polio, diphtheria and tetanus.

The meningitis vaccine involves intramuscular injection in the hip or shoulder. The drug is well tolerated and provides reliable protection against hemophilus influenzae infection.

Vaccines against pneumococcal meningitis

The following vaccine preparations are widely used in our country:

• Pneumo 23 (France). The vaccine is given to children after 2 years of age; it allows them to create immunity for 10 years;
• Prevenar 13. The drug is used in children from 2 months to 5 years of age. For lifelong immunity, 4 injections are enough. Vaccinations are given free of charge to children who are often sick.

Vaccination schedule

Newborns who are on breastfeeding, are protected from hemophilus influenzae infection thanks to the antibodies that come with mother's milk. Therefore, vaccinations against meningitis are carried out in children older than 3 months. The following immunization regimens are used:

• If vaccination begins at 3 months, then 3 vaccinations are indicated with an interval of 1.5 months. Revaccination is carried out at 1.5 years. Injections are usually combined with administration DTP vaccines, Tetracocca;
• If vaccination starts at 6 months, then 2 vaccinations with an interval of 1.5 months are sufficient. Revaccination is carried out 12 months after the last injection;
• For children over one year old and people with immunodeficiency, the vaccine is administered once.

The Prevenar vaccine is administered to a child according to the following scheme:

• 3 months;
• 4.5 months;
• 6 months;
• Revaccination at 1.5 years.

The vaccine preparation Pneumo-23 is administered once to a child over 2 years of age.

When is vaccination contraindicated?

Vaccination against meningitis is carried out not only to healthy people, but also to patients who have a mild form of the disease. However, vaccination should be refused in the following situations:

• Acute infectious diseases that are accompanied by elevated body temperature;
• Exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
• The presence of allergic reactions to other vaccine preparations.

Possible adverse reactions

Meningitis vaccines are usually well tolerated. However, in some patients, vaccination provokes the following side effects:

• Weakness;
• Redness at the injection site, development of painful swelling;
• Fever in in rare cases;
• Severe allergies accompanied by swelling oral cavity, difficulty breathing, tachycardia, shortness of breath, pale skin, urticaria;
• Possible exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Most adverse reactions do not require special drug therapy. However, if an allergy develops, the patient needs to take antihistamine, if symptoms are severe, you must call an ambulance.

Features of the prevention of meningitis at the site of infection

On the territory of Russia for children school age To prevent meningitis, a single injection of immunoglobulin is recommended. The injection must be given within a week after contact with a patient or carrier of the infection. To prevent the occurrence of secondary meningitis, it is recommended to vaccinate a child within 5 days after contact with infected people.

• Avoid swimming in unknown bodies of water;
• Avoid large cluster people;
• Wash your hands with soap before eating, after walking, traveling on public transport;
• Regularly carry out wet cleaning of premises;
• Drink only high-quality drinking water;
• Carefully process products before consumption.

Do children need vaccinations?

Parents must decide for themselves whether their child needs vaccination. To make the right choice, you need to consider.

Meningitis and pneumonia are serious diseases that affect children and adults. The Yusupov Hospital has all the conditions for the treatment of these diseases:

• comfortable conditions for patients;
• isolated rooms equipped with individual personal hygiene products;
• modern methods diagnostics using the latest equipment from leading global manufacturers;
• application innovative methods treatment.

Severe cases of meningitis and pneumonia are discussed at a meeting of the expert council with the participation of professors and doctors highest category. Leading specialists make collegial decisions regarding patient treatment tactics.

Any infectious disease is best prevented through vaccination. Vaccination against meningitis is not mandatory in Russia. Knowing about the consequences of the disease, parents are interested in whether their children are vaccinated against meningitis and how to vaccinate their child.

There is no single vaccine against this dangerous disease, since meningitis is caused by different pathogens (bacteria, viruses). The most dangerous are bacterial (purulent) meningitis. Their most common causes are 3 types of pathogens: Haemophilus influenzae type B, meningococci and pneumococci. To prevent meningitis, vaccination is needed. The doctor decides at what age to do it.

Vaccination against meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae infection is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B. It can cause not only purulent meningitis, but also inflammation of the lungs, epiglottis, joints and general infection– sepsis. Most severe form hemophilus influenzae infection is purulent meningitis. The disease begins with high temperature, fever, chills, severe malaise of the baby. Sometimes unusual drowsiness, vomiting, and headache occur. Children under one year old cry loudly due to headaches and their fontanel bulges. These symptoms are caused by increased intracranial pressure due to inflammation of the meninges.

Over the course of several days, the symptoms of meningitis increase, and the patient's condition becomes extremely serious. The disease can occur in the form of isolated meningitis or with damage to other organs (lungs, joints), and sepsis can develop. The causative agent of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis produces enzymes that make it resistant to antibiotics. The disease is difficult to treat antibacterial therapy. After an illness, irreversible neurological complications may develop - blindness, deafness, delayed neuropsychic development, convulsive syndrome.

Is vaccination against meningitis mandatory for children? Experts from the World Health Organization recommend that all children be vaccinated against meningitis. The effectiveness of vaccination is from 95 to 100%. In Russia, vaccination against meningitis is not included in the routine vaccination calendar, since the cost of foreign vaccines is too high and there are no domestic analogues. Considering the danger of meningitis to the life and health of a child, parents should think about vaccinating their baby against this infection.

Should adults be vaccinated against meningitis? Vaccination against meningitis is recommended:

• students living in dormitories;
• conscripts;
• people with a damaged or removed spleen;
• persons suffering from blood diseases;
• tourists in areas where meningitis is frequently reported.

Every adult must make an informed decision whether he wants to protect himself from a dangerous infectious disease.

Meningitis vaccination schedule

At what age are children vaccinated against meningitis? If the mother has been in contact with the pathogen in her life, the child from birth to three months is protected from hemophilus influenzae infection thanks to maternal antibodies, which then disappear. From one and a half to three years of age, when a child encounters hemophilus influenzae, he independently begins to produce antibodies. By the age of 5-6 years, most children are completely protected from infection. When are vaccinations against meningitis given? The baby needs vaccination between the ages of 2-3 months and 5 years.

Vaccination against meningitis, regardless of age, is carried out for all patients with immunodeficiency conditions:

• after a bone marrow transplant;
• after removal of the spleen or thymus gland;
• who received treatment for cancer;
• AIDS patients;
• patients with chronic respiratory diseases.

The immunization schedule depends on the age at which it starts. In countries where vaccination against meningitis is mandatory, vaccination begins at two or three months. The meningitis vaccine for children is administered three times, with an interval of 1-2 months, along with vaccines against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Revaccination is carried out once 12 months after the third vaccination.

If children are vaccinated against meningitis from 6 to 12 months of life, they are given 2 injections with an interval of 1-2 months. Revaccination is carried out 12 months after the second vaccination. If the meningitis vaccine is administered to children over 1 year of age and adults suffering from immunodeficiency conditions, the vaccine is given once. Immunity lasts for a long time. Revaccinations are given to patients only in cases of immunodeficiency. The vaccination is repeated once every 5 years.

Meningitis vaccine for children

What is the name of the meningitis vaccine for children? A foreign vaccine against meningitis has been registered in Russia, which is called ACT - Hib. It contains the individual components of the microorganism - sections of the cell wall. The drug does not contain antibiotics or preservatives. It is a dry substance that is diluted with a solvent attached to the vaccine before injection. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly to children under 18 months of age in the thigh, and after one and a half years - in the shoulder at a dose of 0.5 ml.

The drug can be combined with all vaccines except BCG and immunoglobulin. It is allowed to dilute the ACT-vaccine Hib vaccine TETRACOK is a foreign combined vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio, and not a solvent, and is administered in one syringe. This reduces the number of injections during vaccination. The ACT-HIB meningitis vaccine is well tolerated by children and adults.

Sometimes normal post-vaccination local reactions are observed in the form of soreness, redness and swelling. General reactions after vaccination are rare. They are manifested by short-term malaise, irritability or drowsiness, as well as a slight increase in body temperature.

When combined with DPT and repeated administrations vaccine against meningitis, the number and intensity of post-vaccination reactions does not increase. Complications in the form of allergic reactions occur extremely rarely. A temporary contraindication to vaccination is an acute infectious disease or exacerbation chronic pathology. In this case, the vaccination is carried out only 2-4 weeks after the patient has completely recovered. Permanent contraindications are complications that arose after the previous administration of the vaccine and a severe allergic reaction to the components of the drug.

Doctors note that children vaccinated with the hemophilus influenzae vaccine reduce the incidence of acute respiratory diseases. For this reason, doctors recommend vaccinating children who are often ill for a long time and who attend children's institutions with this vaccine once.

Vaccination against meningococcal infection

Another cause of purulent meningitis is a large group of meningococci. They are divided into groups A, B, C, W135, Y. The disease is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets. The source of infection is a sick person or a carrier of a microorganism. Meningococcal infection affects people of all ages, but the main group consists of children under 1 year, or more precisely, from 3 to 6 months. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis are caused by pathogens of group A meningococcus. In Russia, isolated cases of meningitis are recorded. It is caused mainly by meningococcus group B. Meningococcus can affect various organs - the nasopharynx, pharynx, heart, lungs, joints. The whole body may be affected - sepsis.

Meningococcal infection is characterized by high fever, repeated vomiting and severe headache. A star-shaped small hemorrhagic rash appears on the skin (hemorrhages in the skin, “stars” and small dots). The disease progresses rapidly. There are fulminant forms of infection, in which less than a day passes from the onset of high fever to death.

What vaccination against meningitis is given? Currently, vaccines against meningococcal subgroups A, C, W135, Y are produced in the world. Domestic MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINES A and A+C are produced in Russia, and foreign analogues from various manufacturers are also registered, called “MENINGO A+C”. These are polysaccharide vaccines. They contain a fragment of the meningococcal cell wall, rather than the entire microorganism. The drug contains no preservatives or antibiotics.

Vaccination against meningitis caused by meningococcus is recommended for people who are in areas of infection. Routine vaccination against meningitis is carried out for children over 18 months of age, adolescents and adults who live in areas with high incidence rates or travel to such regions. Also, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, vaccination against meningococcal infection is necessary for mass vaccination during epidemics caused by meningococci of groups A and C. Domestic vaccines against meningitis are used from 18 months. Meningococcal vaccines A and A+C are administered to adults and adolescents. These drugs can also be given to children under 18 months of age if someone in the family has meningococcal infection. Since long lasting immunity is not created after the introduction of the vaccine, vaccination is repeated after one and a half years.

The vaccine against meningitis is administered once subcutaneously into the upper third of the shoulder or under the shoulder blade. Children aged 1 to 8 years are administered 0.25 ml of the dissolved drug. Older children and adults are administered 0.5 ml of the drug. The MENINGO A+C vaccine is administered subcutaneously once to children over two years of age and adults, 0.5 ml. If a child's family has a meningococcal infection, this vaccine can also be used.

Six-month-old babies, if they are taken to an area dangerous for meningococcal meningitis, must be vaccinated against meningitis no later than 2 weeks before departure. Children over 6 years old and adults are vaccinated immediately before departure. Children who are vaccinated before 2 years of age are given a second dose of the drug after 3 months. After 3 years, another vaccination is given once. When vaccinating children over two years of age, the effectiveness of vaccination reaches 85-95%. After 3 years, a single revaccination is carried out to maintain immunity. In adults, after a single dose of the meningitis vaccine, immunity lasts for 10 years.

If cases of meningococcal infection are occasionally recorded in the region, it is mandatory to vaccinate patients with a removed spleen, with immunodeficiency conditions, including AIDS patients, and people with anatomical defects of the skull. If there is a high risk of the disease, even pregnant women are vaccinated. There are no permanent contraindications for vaccination against meningitis.

Vaccination against pneumococcal infection

The third group of microorganisms that cause purulent meningitis are pneumococci. They also cause severe pneumonia, joint damage, and purulent otitis media. Pneumococci are transmitted airborne droplet from people with pneumococcal infection and from carriers of microorganisms. Often develops lobar pneumonia.

What is the name of the vaccine against meningitis and pneumonia? The foreign pneumococcal vaccine PNEUMO 23 has been registered in Russia. The drug contains polysaccharides of the cell walls of the 23 most common subtypes of pneumococcus. Vaccination is carried out for children starting from the age of two, and for adults. 0.5 ml of the drug is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly once. When vaccinating patients with immunodeficiency, the vaccination is repeated once every 5 years.

Vaccination with the PNEUMO 23 vaccine is important for protecting people over 65 years of age. The drug is recommended to be administered along with the influenza vaccine to prevent severe pneumonia. Routine vaccination is carried out for patients with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, patients with diabetes mellitus and cancer. The vaccine against meningitis and pneumonia PNEUMO 23 reduces the incidence of respiratory diseases. It is indicated for frequently ill children who attend child care institutions. If necessary, pregnant women are vaccinated in the last trimester. The Yusupov Hospital treats meningitis and pneumonia. Call the clinic and the coordinating doctor will answer all your questions.

References

• ICD-10 ( International classification diseases)
• Yusupov Hospital
• "Diagnostics". - Brief Medical Encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1989.
• “Clinical assessment of laboratory test results”//G. I. Nazarenko, A. A. Kishkun. Moscow, 2005
• Clinical laboratory analytics. Fundamentals of clinical laboratory analysis V.V. Menshikov, 2002.

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*The information on the site is for informational purposes only. All materials and prices posted on the site are not public offer, determined by the provisions of Art. 437 Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For accurate information, please contact the clinic staff or visit our clinic. The list of paid services provided is indicated in the price list of the Yusupov Hospital.

Vaccination today remains the only reliable way to prevent infection with dangerous diseases. A disease such as meningitis most often affects children under 3 years of age and entails extremely dangerous consequences. However, any interference in immune system human exposure is fraught with risks and is not completely safe. So should you vaccinate your child against meningitis? What types of vaccines are there? To whom is this vaccination contraindicated? Let's figure it out together.

Vaccination against meningitis is recommended for all children who attend kindergartens

What is meningitis and why is it dangerous?

Meningitis is epidemic. Most often it affects children aged 2-2.5 months to 3 years. Infection often occurs in children's groups, but there is a risk of catching the infection even from a healthy carrier. Infection with meningococcal infection can lead to tragic consequences. How fulfilling the baby’s life will be depends on timely treatment.

Who needs immunization?

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Vaccination against meningitis is not part of the approved vaccination schedule. Mass immunization is carried out only if an outbreak of disease is registered and only in outbreak areas. It is recommended to be vaccinated against meningococcal infection in the following cases:

• children suffering from immunodeficiency;
• children aged 1.5-2 years attending preschool institutions;
• if the child lives in a region with a high incidence rate or plans to visit such a region even for a short period of time;
• when a child with suspected meningitis appears in a group, all children aged 1–8 years who have contact and live in the same building with him are vaccinated, and adolescents are also immunized;
• at the request of the parents (vaccination is carried out at their expense);
• During an epidemic, universal immunization is carried out (an epidemic is a situation when 20 or more cases of infection are registered per 100 thousand children).

Types of vaccines against meningitis with drug names

There are several types of microorganisms that provoke the development of the disease. As a rule, immunization is carried out against the most dangerous pathogens. If parents want to ensure full protection of the child, then they will need to vaccinate him with pneumococcal, meningococcal and hemophilus influenzae vaccines.

Drugs against meningococci

Meningococcal vaccines are effective as a means of emergency prevention in epidemic areas. They rarely call adverse reactions, are practically harmless, compatible with other vaccines (can be administered in one syringe). Requires a single injection. The maximum amount of antibodies is reached on the 14th day after vaccination. Vaccines are usually used against pathogens of groups A, B and C.

Vaccination imported drug Mencevax is allowed from 9 months

Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae

For children at risk, vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae was included in the national vaccination calendar, so you can get it at your local clinic for free. Immunization is carried out simultaneously with DPT vaccination, providing children with lifelong protection against hemophilic meningitis. Exists:

• A separate drug is a monovaccine against Haemophilus influenzae called Hiberix.
• Complex vaccinations - Infanrix Hexa and Pentaxim. They protect the baby from several types of dangerous diseases at once. In addition to the hemophilic component, their list also includes whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

Pneumococcal meningitis vaccine

Children who often suffer from bronchitis for a long time are routinely vaccinated free of charge with the vaccine against pneumococcal meningitis Prevenar 13. Vaccination can be carried out from the age of two months until the child reaches 5 years of age. The vaccine is given 4 times, and it provides lifelong protection against pneumococcal meningitis.

Children who are not at risk are vaccinated at the request of their parents. In this case, immunization will have to be paid for.

Also in some cases, a French drug is used. It is suitable for vaccination of children from 2 years of age, providing reliable protection against pneumococcal meningitis, as well as against pneumonia for 10 years.

Vaccination schedule

It is recommended that children be immunized against meningitis according to a specific schedule. It's best to discuss this with your pediatrician. If a child under 2 years of age is vaccinated, revaccination is carried out 3 months after the first immunization. To consolidate the result and ensure reliable protection It is advised to give another vaccination 3 years after revaccination.

Vaccination against hemophilic meningitis in children with Hiberix is ​​carried out 4 times. The baby is vaccinated for the first time at three months of age. Revaccination is carried out after 6 weeks. The third vaccination is given at six months of age. The final vaccination is carried out when the baby reaches the age of 1 year 6 months.

How does the vaccine work and how long does it protect?

The group of meningococci includes several subgroups of bacteria that cause the disease. Meningitis vaccines contain certain substances. Depending on their set, immunization can protect a child from one type of bacteria or prevent infection by several at once.

Epidemics are usually provoked by bacteria belonging to subgroup A. However, in our country, meningitis caused by pathogens from subgroup B is most often recorded. Scientists have not yet developed an effective and affordable vaccine against bacteria of this subgroup. However, immunization against other types of meningitis is justified and is a necessity to protect the baby’s health.

When the drug is administered, the production of antibodies is stimulated in the child’s body. The latter actively suppress living bacteria that penetrate the blood, preventing their vital activity and reproduction, that is, preventing the development of meningitis. Thus, the child receives natural protection against this dangerous disease.

It is important to carry out immunization in a timely manner. Antibodies to pathogens appear in the baby’s blood already on the 5th day after vaccination, but they maximum quantity sufficient to prevent infection is achieved only after two weeks. There are also vaccines for emergency immunization in epidemic areas.

Validity period immune defense depends on the type of drug administered and the immunization regimen. Vaccines used in very young children require four doses to provide sustained protection.

Some types of vaccinations protect a child for 10 years. There are varieties that provide lifelong immunity.

Contraindications for vaccination

An absolute contraindication for immunization against any form of meningitis is the presence of any acute disease in the baby. In such cases, the child is vaccinated only after complete recovery. Children suffering from a mild form of the disease are allowed to be vaccinated. The main contraindication to vaccination in adults, in addition to acute pathological processes, is the period of pregnancy.

The body's response to the drug and possible complications

Vaccines against any form of meningitis are characterized by low reactogenicity, that is, the vast majority of children tolerate the vaccine well, without complications. Sometimes painful swelling appears at the injection site, hyperemia or general weakness. These reactions are usually mild and resolve on their own within 24 to 48 hours.

In rare cases, a vaccine against meningitis pathogens, like any other, can provoke severe allergic reactions. Their symptoms appear quickly - within a few minutes after administration, but sometimes symptoms appear only after a few hours.

If your child has a high fever or other complications after vaccination, you should definitely seek medical help.

The child needs urgent medical attention if the following signs allergies to the vaccine:

• high body temperature;
• pallor;
• dizziness;
• hives;
• tachycardia;
• severe shortness of breath with wheezing (they can be whistling or muffled);
• difficulty breathing, accompanied by swelling of the larynx and/or mouth.

Pros and cons of vaccinating children

Now some parents refuse to vaccinate their children due to various reasons, however, only those that are based on medical contraindications. Vaccinations included in the national calendar help avoid epidemics and keep many children healthy.

No preventative measures will protect against the risk of meningitis as much as vaccination.

There are no absolute negative properties of the meningitis vaccine, and immunization of every child is recommended. Arguments for:

1. This is the only reliable way to prevent the development of meningitis in a child. No preventive measures give a similar or even close in effectiveness result.
2. Qualification medical personnel, especially in the regions, often leaves much to be desired. Many inexperienced doctors are unable to recognize nasopharyngitis and differentiate it from less dangerous diseases of the ENT organs.
3. If you plan to travel to the “meningitis zones” (this includes Canada and the countries of the African continent), vaccination must be carried out - it can save the health and life of the baby.
4. The vaccination is well tolerated and rarely causes complications. Moreover, its effectiveness varies between 95-100%.
5. Immunization with hemophilus influenzae and pneumococcal vaccines not only protects the child from infection with the corresponding types of meningitis, but also can significantly reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract diseases. According to research, these two vaccinations make it possible to remove a child from the group of people who often suffer from these diseases.
6. If at least one of the parents or close relatives suffered from meningitis in childhood, it is recommended to vaccinate the baby with the meningococcal vaccine.

Last article updated: 05/09/2018

Does your child complain of a severe headache? Does he have a skin rash? Your child may have meningitis! What is meningitis? How does it occur and how to treat it? How to prevent terrible disease, and what measures to take to counter the virus? Is there a vaccine against meningitis? Read on to learn more about meningitis and how to protect your baby. Parents try to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of their children. However, sometimes uncontrollable circumstances arise in the form of diseases that can threaten the baby. One of the childhood diseases that many parents suffer from is meningitis. Vaccination against meningitis is mandatory for children.

Pediatrician, gastroenterologist

Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain, spinal cord and head.

Meningitis targets the lining of the brain - group of three the most important membranes (dura, arachnoid and pia mater) covering the brain. These membranes, in addition to the spinal column and skull itself, represent an additional barrier between all kinds of environmental factors (trauma, infection) and the central nervous system.

In addition to these 3 membranes, one of the main protectors is cerebrospinal fluid. Especially when we're talking about about optimal function of the spinal cord and brain. This liquid, clear and colorless, helps protect the brain from damage.

In addition, cerebrospinal fluid removes metabolic products and performs a transport function involving the delivery of nutrients to various areas CNS (central nervous system).

With immediate response, meningitis can be successfully treated. Therefore, it is necessary to get vaccinated regularly, know the symptoms of meningitis and immediately contact a specialist if you suspect meningitis in your child.

Causes and forms of meningitis

The term "meningitis" is just a definition of inflammation meninges. There are various agents that cause the disease.

Highlighted various types meningitis, each with its own causes, risk factors and side effects.

Bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is very serious, severe and can be fatal. Death can occur in just a few hours. Most children recover from meningitis. However, permanent impairment (hearing loss, brain damage, and cognitive impairment) sometimes occurs due to infection.

Types of pathogens

There are several types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. The leading causes are the following pathogens:

1. Pneumococcus. Pneumococcal meningitis can occur when the bacterium invades the bloodstream, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and multiplies within the fluid surrounding the spine and brain.Pneumococcal bacteria do not always cause meningitis. Most often they provoke other diseases: ear infections, pneumonia, sinusitis, bacteremia (this is when a bacterium is detected in the bloodstream).
2. Group B streptococcus.Group B streptococcus bacteria live in the throats and intestines of at least 30% of the population and in up to 40% of pregnant women, without causing any illness. Most infections caused by these bacteria occur in children under 3 months of age, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 1,000 births. If a mother is a carrier, there is a 50% chance that her baby will be infected before or during birth.Mothers are generally immune to the group B streptococcal serotypes they carry and pass on antibodies to the baby during the last eight weeks of pregnancy. Consequently, there are less than one percent of full-term infants who are carriers of group B streptococcus and who subsequently develop associated meningitis or other severe infections. Babies born prematurely (especially those born before 32 weeks) do not receive the mother's antibodies and are at significantly greater risk.Group B streptococcal infection in newborns is a serious condition, with a mortality rate of up to 20%, with many survivors having permanent brain damage.
3. Meninococcus. Neisseria meningitides is a meningococcal bacterium that is little known to most parents. But this significant reason severe childhood infections.In fact, meningococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and can lead to surges and epidemics. This sometimes leads to meningococcemia, a serious and life-threatening blood infection.With this infection, children may develop a fever and a skin rash (red or purple spots). Symptoms may worsen quickly, often within 12 to 24 hours. The condition becomes very serious, and about 10 - 15% of sick children die even with proper treatment.The fact that invasive meningococcal disease often strikes earlier healthy children and quickly worsens (making diagnosis difficult), making this disease even more terrible.Risk factors include recent exposure to a case of meningococcal meningitis and recent upper respiratory tract infection.
4. Haemophilus influenzae. Before the vaccination period, Haemophilus influenzae type B was the main causative agent of meningitis of bacterial etiology in children under 5 years of age. Since a vaccine has become available, this type of meningitis is much less common in children.Haemophilus influenzae meningitis can occur after an upper respiratory tract infection. The infection usually spreads from the lungs and respiratory tract to the blood, then to the brain area.
5. Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is commonly found in soil, dust, water, wastewater; in unpasteurized cheeses (such as brie, mozzarella and blue cheese) and in raw vegetables. These bacteria also enter the body through contaminated water or food. Products contaminated with Listeria can cause outbreaks of meningitis.Meningitis, caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, occurs most often in newborns, the elderly and people with long-term illnesses or with immune system disorders.

Common Causes of Bacterial Meningitis

Common causes of bacterial meningitis vary depending on age category:

• newborns: group B streptococcus, pneumococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli;
• infants and children: pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus, group B streptococcus;
• adolescents: meningococcus, pneumococcus.

Risk factors

1. Age. Infants are at increased risk of bacterial meningitis compared to children of other ages. But children of all ages can develop this form of meningitis.
2. Environment. Infectious diseases often spread where large groups of people are concentrated. Surges of meningitis caused by meningococcus have been reported in preschools and schools.
3. Certain medical conditions. There are some medical conditions, medications, and surgical procedures that put children at increased risk of meningitis.

Viral meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis. It is often less severe than bacterial meningitis, and most children get better without treatment.

It is very important that a child with symptoms of meningitis be examined by a doctor immediately, because some types of meningitis can be very serious, and only a doctor can tell whether the child has the disease, what type of meningitis it is, and prescribe the optimal treatment, which is often life-saving.

Types of Viral Infections

Infants younger than 1 month and children with weakened immune systems are more likely to get viral meningitis.

1. Non-polio enteroviruses are the most common culprit of viral meningitis, especially from late spring to fall when these viruses spread most often. However, only a small number of children infected with enteroviruses actually develop meningitis.
2. Mumps. Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection salivary glands, which most often affects children. The most obvious symptom is swelling of the salivary glands, which causes the patient's face to look like a guinea pig's muzzle.Sometimes the mumps virus can also cause inflammation of the testicle, ovary, or pancreas.Meningitis can occur if the mumps virus spreads into the outer protective layer of the brain. This is about 1 in 7 cases of mumps.
3. Herpes viruses (herpes simplex viruses and chickenpox). The herpes virus leads to meningitis in rare cases. But given that almost 80% of people get some form of herpes, meningitis is more likely to occur than expected.
4. Measles virus. The measles virus is highly contagious and lives in the mucous membrane of the throat and nose of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. In addition, the virus can live for up to two hours in the airspace where an infected person has coughed or sneezed. If other people breathe contaminated air or touch a contaminated surface and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can become infected.Meningitis is one of the severe complications of measles.
5. Influenza virus. There are many various viruses flu, and in any given year, certain ones are more common than others. Flu infections are more likely to occur during "flu season," which runs from about October to May.Children under 5 years of age, especially those under 2 years of age, are at risk of severe complications if they become infected and develop influenza. Every year, about 20,000 children under 5 years of age are hospitalized with complications of the flu, such as pneumonia. Meningitis rarely develops against the background of influenza, but does occur.
6. Arboviruses (West Nile virus). West Nile virus is the virus most common among mosquito bites in humans.Meningitis is one of the serious illnesses caused by this virus, along with encephalitis and meningoencephalitis.

At-risk groups

A child can get viral meningitis at any age. However, some children are at higher risk. This:

• children under 5 years old;
• children with a weakened immune system caused by disease, medications (chemotherapy), or after a recent organ or bone marrow transplant.

Infants younger than 1 month and children with weakened immune systems are more likely to suffer severe illness.

Fungal meningitis

This type of meningitis is rare and is usually caused by a fungus that spreads through the blood to the spinal cord. Anyone can get fungal meningitis. People with weakened immune systems (HIV-infected or cancer patients) are at increased risk.

The most common culprit of fungal meningitis in people with weak immunity is Cryptococcus.

Certain illnesses, medications, and surgical procedures weaken the immune system and increase the risk of fungal infection, sometimes leading to meningitis. Prematurely born babies with critically low birth weights are at increased risk of blood infections from Candida fungus, which can spread to the brain.

The larvae can be found in raw or undercooked protein sources (eg freshwater fish, chicken, pigs) or in contaminated water. In rare cases, the larvae may directly burrow into the skin of people who are exposed to contaminated food sources or fresh water.

Meningitis is a condition that is not to be taken lightly. Because of the potential complications and pain this disease brings, it's normal to wonder: Is meningitis contagious?

The contagiousness of meningitis is determined by the type of meningitis that the patient has.

Contagious meningitis

There are 2 types of contagious meningitis - bacterial and viral etiology. Viral meningitis is highly contagious, as the viruses responsible for the disease pass from person to person or through contact with an infected surface.

Enteroviruses, which are responsible for the vast majority of cases of viral meningitis, are present in the feces, sputum and saliva of infected people. This means that touching or contacting any of these secrets can trigger viral meningitis.

Just like viral meningitis, bacterial meningitis is contagious, especially if there have been cases of prolonged contact with a sick person. However, if the child is close to a sick person without close contact, the risk of infection is reduced.

The bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis are usually found in the mucus and saliva of an infected individual.

Bacteria can be transmitted through:

• kisses;
• exchange of utensils (glasses/cups);
• coughing or sneezing.

Eating food contaminated with bacteria increases the risk of developing bacterial meningitis.

Non-contagious types of meningitis

Fungal meningitis does not spread from person to person. This form of meningitis occurs when fungus travels through the bloodstream to the brain from another area in the body or from an infected area near it.

A child may develop fungal meningitis after taking medications that weaken his or her immune system. This may include steroids (prednisolone), a drug used after organ transplantation and sometimes prescribed to treat autoimmune conditions.

Meningitis as a result fungal infection, occurs from an infection spreading to the spinal cord. Unlike other fungi that are common in soil, Candida, a potential causative agent of meningitis, is usually acquired in a hospital setting.

Non-infectious meningitis is not contagious because it is usually caused by conditions such as lupus or cancer or brain surgery. Meningitis can also develop due to a head injury or after taking certain medications.

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningitis vary depending on age and the cause of the infection.

General symptoms:

• increased body temperature;
• lethargy;
• irritability;
• pain, dizziness;
• sensitivity to light;
• rigidity (immobility, stiffness) of the neck muscles;
• skin rash.

Infants with meningitis may have different symptoms. Babies can be very irritable and, conversely, sleepy and have a decreased appetite. You may find it difficult to calm your baby down even if you pick him up and rock him to sleep. They may also have a fever or a protruding fontanel above the level of the skull.

Other symptoms of meningitis in infants may include:

• yellowish skin tone;
• stiffness of the muscles of the body and neck;
• temperature below normal;
• sluggish sucking;
• loud shrill scream.

Diagnostics

Based on your medical history (history) and examination, if meningitis is suspected, your doctor will suggest specific tests to further aid in diagnosis.

Tests include assessing the blood for signs of infection and the possible presence of bacteria, brain scans (such as CT or MRI scans), and examination cerebrospinal fluid.

Lumbar puncture is the most common way to obtain a sample of fluid (CSF) from spinal canal for examination. It is called a "lumbar puncture" because the needle is inserted into this part of the back. The needle passes between bone parts spine until it reaches the cerebrospinal fluid. A small amount of fluid is then removed and sent to a laboratory for analysis. Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid is usually necessary for a definitive diagnosis and helps make optimal treatment decisions (eg, selection of an appropriate antibiotic).

Diagnosis is confirmed by testing the spinal fluid and, in the case of infection, by identifying the organism causing the disease.

In patients with meningitis, the cerebrospinal fluid often has low level glucose and increased number of leukocytes.

In addition, the liquid can be used to identify some viral causes of meningitis or can be used to culture the bacterial organisms that cause meningitis.

Treatment

When a specialist suspects that a child has meningitis, he will most likely prescribe him antibacterial agents broad-spectrum for the treatment of potential non-viral types of infectious meningitis. Once the doctor determines the type of meningitis—viral, bacterial, or fungal—the doctor will provide more specific treatment.

Treatment of meningitis of viral etiology

Antibiotic therapy will not cope with the virus.

If it is discovered that your child has meningitis of viral origin, he will be spared any antibacterial therapy that you may have used before.

No specific treatment viral meningitis, which is often mild.

Typically, children recover from viral meningitis in seven to ten days. Treatment consists of rest, antipyretic/pain-reducing medications, and adequate fluid intake.

However, if your child's meningitis is caused by the herpes virus or influenza, the doctor will prescribe antiviral drugs, affecting these specific pathogens.

For example, the antiviral drugs Ganciclovir and Foscarnet are sometimes used to treat cytomegalovirus meningitis in children who are immunocompromised (from HIV/AIDS or other problems), in infants born with the infection, or in those who are seriously ill.

In some cases, Acyclovir is approved for use in the treatment of meningitis due to the herpes simplex virus, although in most cases it has a beneficial effect only when administered very early.

Flu can be treated with one of the licensed antiviral agents(for example, Perimivir or Oseltamivir).

Treatment of bacterial meningitis

If a child has bacterial meningitis, he will be treated with one or more antibacterial drugs that target the underlying cause of the infection.

• cephalosporin antibiotics such as Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone (for pneumococcus and meningococcus);
• ampicillin (penicillin class drug) for Haemophilus influenzae type B and Listeria monocytogenes;
• vancomycin for penicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and pneumococcus.

A number of other antibiotics can also be used, such as Meropenem, Tobramycin and Gentamicin.

Ciprofloxacin and Rifampicin are sometimes given to family members who have bacterial meningitis to protect them from infection.

Treatment methods for fungal meningitis

Fungal meningitis is treated with long courses antifungal drugs V high doses. These drugs are often part of the azole class of antifungal drugs, such as Fluconazole, used to treat Candida albicans infections.

Alternatively, the antimicrobial agent Miconazole and the antibacterial Rifampicin can be used.

In addition to the above medications, corticosteroids may be used to reduce inflammation.

Treatment of other types of meningitis

Non-infectious meningitis caused by allergies or autoimmune disease, can be treated with corticosteroids.

Cancer-related meningitis requires treatment tailored to the individual type of cancer.

Prevention of meningitis

Most effective method Protecting a child from certain types of bacterial meningitis is immunization.

Today, vaccination against meningitis for children is gaining popularity. There are three types of vaccinations against bacterial meningitis, some of which are recommended for children as young as 2 months.

Meningococcal vaccines

This vaccine protects against the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningococcal disease.

Although the meningococcal vaccine has been available since the 1970s, it has not been very popular because its protection did not last long. Fortunately, new meningococcal vaccines are now available that offer better and longer-lasting protection.

There are currently two types of meningococcal vaccine available to children:

1. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine provides protection against four types of meningococcal bacteria (called types A, C, W and Y). Recommended for all children.
2. Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine protects against type 5 meningococcal bacteria. This is a fairly new type and not yet recommended as a routine vaccination for healthy people, but it may be given to some children and adolescents (16 to 23 years old) who are at high risk of meningococcal infection.

Vaccination with meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended:

• children 11 - 12 years old, with a booster (increased dose) received at 16 years old;
• adolescents 13 - 18 years old who have not previously been immunized;
• those who received their first vaccine between the ages of 13 and 15 years. They should receive a booster dose between the ages of 16 and 18 years. Teenagers who receive their first vaccine after age 16 do not need a booster dose.

The full series of meningococcal conjugate vaccines should be given to children and adolescents at greatest risk of meningococcal disease, including those who:

• lives or travels in countries where the disease is common if they are present during a disease outbreak;
• has certain immune disorders.

If the immune disorder is chronic, these children also need a booster dose several years after the first vaccine, depending on the age at which the first vaccine is given.

The sequence and dosage will depend on the age of the child.

Children 10 years of age and older with these risk factors should receive the full series of meningococcal serogroup B vaccine. The preferred age to receive the vaccine is 16 to 18 years. Depending on the brand, two or three doses are required.

Children with increased risk the occurrence of meningococcal infection (children without a spleen or having certain medical indications) should receive the vaccine starting as early as 2 months. Some of the common side effects are swelling, redness, and pain at the injection site. Headache, fever, or fatigue may also occur. Severe problems such as allergic reactions are rare.

When to delay or avoid immunization

• the child is currently ill, although minor colds or other minor illnesses should not prevent immunization;
• the child had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine, the DTP vaccine.

If your child has had or is having an episode of Guillain-Barré syndrome (a disease of the nervous system that causes progressive weakness), talk to your doctor about immunizations.

Available data suggest that protection from meningococcal conjugate vaccines declines in many adolescents over 5 years. This highlights the importance of a booster dose at 16 years of age to ensure children remain protected at the age when they are most at risk of meningococcal disease. Early data from meningococcal serogroup B vaccines suggest that protective antibodies also decline quite rapidly after vaccination.

Pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13 or Prevenar 13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) protect against pneumococcal infections that cause meningitis.

PCV13 provides protection against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria that cause the most common childhood infections. PPSV23 protects against 23 species. These vaccines not only prevent disease in children who are immunized, but also help stop the spread.

Prevenar 13 can be given regularly to infants and children 2 to 59 months of age to protect them against 13 subtypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria, which cause invasive pneumococcal disease, including meningitis, pneumonia and other serious infections.

It can also protect children from ear infections caused by these 13 subtypes of Streptococcus bacteria.

Prevenar 13 is usually given as a three-dose series (as part of a routine immunization schedule) with primary doses at two and four months and a booster dose at 12 to 15 months.

A select group of children aged 2 years and older may also need a PCV13 injection. For example, if one or more vaccinations were missed, or if there was a chronic disease (heart disease, lung disease), or something that weakens the immune system (asplenia, HIV infection). The doctor can decide when and how often the child should receive PCV13.

PPSV23 immunization is recommended as additional protection against pneumococcus in children 2 to 18 years of age who have certain chronic conditions, including heart, lung, or liver disease. renal failure, diabetes, a weakened immune system, or cochlear implants.

The pneumococcal vaccine should not be given to children with a history of hypersensitivity reactions to the vaccine. The safety of the pneumococcal vaccine in pregnant women has not yet been studied. There is no evidence that the vaccine is harmful to the mother or fetus. However, pregnant women should consult a specialist before vaccination. Women at high risk should be vaccinated before pregnancy if possible.

The pneumococcal vaccine usually does not cause adverse reactions. Reported adverse effects include soreness and/or redness at the injection site, fever, rash, and allergic reactions.

Studies conducted several years after PCV13 was licensed showed that one dose of PCV13 protected 8 out of every 10 children from disease caused by the serotypes contained in the vaccine, and this protection was similar among children with and without risk factors. The vaccine is also effective in preventing pneumococcal disease caused by antibiotic-resistant serotypes.

Haemophilus influenzae vaccine

The vaccine provides protection against a severe bacterial infection that mainly affects infants and children under 5 years of age. These bacteria can cause epiglottitis ( severe swelling in the throat, making it difficult to breathe), a serious form of pneumonia and bacterial meningitis.

Haemophilus influenzae meningitis causes death in 1 in 20 children and permanent brain damage in 20% of survivors.

Thanks to the vaccine, the incidence has decreased by almost 99%. The cases that do occur are mostly in children who were not given the vaccine or were too young to be immunized.

• 3 months;
• 4.5 months;
• 6 months;
• 18 months.

The vaccine should not be given to children younger than 6 weeks of age.

Also, tell the doctor if your child has a severe allergic reaction. Anyone who has ever had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose or has had a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine should not get the vaccine.

For children who are moderately or severely ill, immunization should be delayed until recovery.

Research shows that almost all (93 - 100%) children are protected against Haemophilus influenzae after receiving the initial series of vaccines.

After the initial series, antibody levels decrease and an additional dose is required for children aged 12 to 15 months to maintain protection in early childhood.

Most children who receive the Haemophilus influenzae vaccine do not have any problems with it. With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a possibility of side effects. They are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days, but serious reactions are possible.

Minor problems usually do not appear after vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae. If they occur, they usually begin soon after the shot. They can last up to 2 or 3 days and include redness, swelling, warmth at the injection site, and fever.

Like any vaccine, the effectiveness of vaccinations that protect against the above bacteria is not one hundred percent. Vaccines also do not provide protection against all types of each bacteria. Therefore, there is still a chance that a child may get meningitis of bacterial etiology, even if he has been vaccinated.

Prevention of viral meningitis

There are no vaccines to protect against non-polio enteroviruses, which are the most common culprits of viral meningitis.

You can take next steps to reduce your child’s risk of contracting non-polio enteroviruses or spreading them to other people:

1. Frequently wash your hands with soap, especially after using the toilet or after coughing or blowing your nose.
2. Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
3. Avoid close contact such as kissing, hugging, sharing cups or sharing utensils with sick people.
4. Cleaning and disinfection of children's toys is important. door handles, especially if someone in the family is sick.
5. If a child is sick, he should stay at home.
6. Avoid mosquito bites and other insect vectors that can infect people.

Some vaccines may protect against individual diseases(measles, mumps, rubella and influenza), which provoke the development of viral meningitis. Make sure your child is vaccinated on schedule.

There are many other types of viral meningitis for which vaccines have not yet been developed. Fortunately, viral meningitis is usually not as serious as bacterial meningitis.

Thus, despite its seriousness, meningitis is a disease that can be prevented. And taking action in advance is critical.

Unfortunately, the vaccinations included in the list of mandatory vaccinations cannot protect a child from all dangerous diseases, for example, from an infection such as meningitis (inflammation of the meninges). Knowing the consequences of this serious and dangerous disease, many parents are interested in whether it is possible to vaccinate their child against it and how to do it?

There is no single vaccination against this serious and dangerous disease, since meningitis is caused by different pathogens - both bacteria and viruses. The most dangerous meningitis bacterial(they are also called purulent). A child can actually be protected from some of them by vaccination, but these vaccinations are not included in the national (free) vaccination schedule.

Most common reasons purulent meningitis are three types of bacteria - Haemophilus influenzae type B, meningococcus And pneumococci.

Vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae infection (Hib infection) is caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B. It can cause purulent meningitis, pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), epiglottitis (inflammation of the epiglottis), arthritis (inflammation of the joints), as well as purulent lesion the whole body - sepsis. Hemophilus influenzae infection is characterized by severe course and complications. It is easily transmitted by airborne droplets when talking, sneezing, coughing, especially among children under five to six years of age. In some of them, the microorganism may not cause disease, but remains living in the nasopharynx (these are healthy carriers). Such children will be a source of infection for other children who may develop a serious illness.

The most severe form of Haemophilus influenzae infection is purulent meningitis.

According to some data, in Russia, in children under 6 years of age, up to a third of all cases of purulent meningitis are caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B.

The disease begins with high temperature (up to 39-40 ° C), chills, fever, and severe malaise of the child. Sometimes unusual drowsiness, headache, and vomiting occur. In children under 1 year of age, the equivalent is loud crying (due to headache) and bulging. These symptoms are caused by increased intracranial pressure due to inflammation of the meninges. Symptoms increase over several days, and the condition becomes extremely severe.

The disease can occur as isolated meningitis, or with damage to other organs (joints, lungs), and sepsis may develop. Haemophilus influenzae meningitis is difficult to treat because its causative agent produces enzymes that make it resistant to antibiotics (about 20-30% of Haemophilus influenzae bacilli isolated from patients are insensitive to many antibiotics). Therefore, treatment results are not always successful, and mortality in severe forms of the disease can reach 16-20%. A third of patients who have had hemophilic meningitis develop irreversible neurological complications - seizures, delayed neuropsychic development, deafness, blindness, etc.

Pneumonia, caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B, occurs mainly in children from 2 to 8 years of age, and its course in 60% of cases also has various complications, including from the heart and lungs. Up to half of all purulent infections of the ear, nose and throat, in particular recurrent ones, are associated with hemophilus influenzae infection purulent otitis(ear inflammation) and sinusitis (inflammation paranasal sinuses nose), as well as frequent acute respiratory diseases in children. IN recent years It became known that sensitivity to this microbe is increased in children with chronic bronchopulmonary pathology and bronchial asthma provoked by infections.

Due to the severity of the course, the variety of clinical manifestations, the large number of complications, high mortality and insufficient effectiveness of treatment of hemophilus influenzae infection, a program for its prevention through vaccinations was developed. The World Health Organization recommends vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae for all children. This immunization is carried out in more than eighty countries around the world, and in countries with mandatory vaccination, hemophilus influenzae infection has been practically eliminated. The effectiveness of vaccination is estimated at 95-100%. In Russia, this vaccination is not included in the routine vaccination calendar. One of the reasons is the high cost of foreign vaccines registered in our country and the (currently) lack of domestic analogues. However, given the danger of meningitis to life and health, parents should think about vaccinating their child against this infection.

Haemophilus influenzae vaccination schedule

Children from birth to three months are protected from hemophilus influenzae infection thanks to maternal antibodies (if the mother has encountered this infection in her life), which then disappear. From 1.5 to 3 years of age, when a child encounters this infection, he independently begins to produce antibodies, and by the age of five to six years, most children are completely protected, and hemophilus influenzae infection develops in them much less frequently, mainly in immunodeficiency states. Therefore, the stage when a child is most defenseless against infection, and therefore especially in need of vaccination, is the age from 2-3 months. up to 5 years. In addition, these vaccinations, regardless of age, are given to all patients with immunodeficiency conditions: after a bone marrow transplant, after removal of the spleen, thymus gland, as well as those who have received treatment for cancer, AIDS patients, patients with chronic bronchopulmonary diseases .

The immunization schedule depends on the age at which it is started. In countries where vaccination against hemophilus influenzae is mandatory, it begins to be given from 2-3 months of age, three times, with an interval of 1-2 months, along with vaccines (against whooping cough, tetanus) and polio. Revaccination (fixing vaccination), like DTP, is carried out once 12 months after the third vaccination. If children receive vaccination from 6 to 12 months of life, it is enough to administer two injections at intervals of 1-2 months with revaccination 12 months after the second vaccination. When starting vaccination, children over 1 year of age and adults suffering from immunodeficiency conditions are vaccinated once. Immunity lasts for a long time. Revaccinations for patients in this age group are carried out only in cases of immunodeficiency. They are vaccinated once every 5 years.

Vaccine composition

The foreign vaccine ACT - Hib has been registered (approved for use) in Russia. It does not contain the entire microbe, but only its individual components - sections of the cell wall. The drug does not contain a preservative or antibiotics and is a dry substance, which before injection is diluted with a solvent attached to the vaccine and administered intramuscularly (into the thigh for children under 18 months, into the shoulder after 18 months) in a dose of 0.5 ml. Possible combination with all vaccines (except) and with immunoglobulin 1. It is allowed to dilute the ACT-HIB vaccine with the TETRACOK vaccine (a foreign combined vaccine against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio), rather than with a solvent, and administer it in one syringe, which reduces the number of injections during vaccination.

The ACT-HIB vaccine is well tolerated. Post-vaccination local reactions (usual, normal) in the form of pain, swelling and redness occur in no more than 10% of vaccinated people. Post-vaccination general reactions are rare - in 1-5% of vaccinated people - and manifest themselves in the form of short-term malaise, irritability or drowsiness, as well as a slight increase in body temperature. With repeated and joint vaccinations with DTP, the number and intensity of general and local reactions does not increase. Complications in the form of allergic reactions are extremely rare.

A temporary contraindication to vaccination, as to all other vaccinations, is an acute infectious disease or exacerbation of a chronic disease. In this case, the vaccination is carried out 2-4 weeks after recovery.

1 Immunoglobulin is a drug made from the blood of a person who has been ill or vaccinated against a particular infection and has developed antibodies - protective proteins against the causative agent of infection.

A permanent contraindication is a severe allergic reaction to the components of the drug and complications that arose after previous administration.

Vaccination against meningococcal infection

Another cause of purulent meningitis is meningococci. This is a large group of pathogens that cause more than 60% of meningitis in children and adults. They, in turn, are also divided into a number of groups - A, B, C, W135, Y, etc. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets from person to person. The range of clinical manifestations of meningococcal infection is very wide. Just like with hemophilus influenzae, its source is not only a patient with meningococcal disease, but also carriers of this microorganism (there are about 5%, but carriage is mostly short-term, unlike hemophilus influenzae infection), as well as those who suffer from a mild form of infection, which looks like an acute respiratory disease.

Meningococcal infection affects people of all ages - both children and adults, but the main group consists of children under 1 year old, or more precisely, the first half of the year (3-6 months). The youngest members of the family often become infected from older children or adults. Epidemics (large outbreaks) of meningococcal meningitis are usually caused by group A meningococcus. Periodic increases in incidence occur every 10-12 years. In Russia, the current incidence is sporadic (single), rather than epidemic, and is caused predominantly (almost 80%) by group B meningococcus. According to World Organization healthcare, more than 300,000 cases of meningococcal meningitis are registered annually worldwide. Of these, 30,000 were deaths. In Russia, mortality among adults can reach 12%, among children - 9%.

Meningococcus can affect various organs - pharynx, nose, lungs, heart, joints, and not just the membranes of the brain. Damage to the entire body may occur - blood poisoning (sepsis). Meningococcal infection is characterized by high fever, severe headache and repeated vomiting. Main hallmark- the appearance of a star-shaped type of small hemorrhagic rash (hemorrhages in the skin, small dots and “stars”; however, if you stretch the skin near the rash element, the rash, unlike other non-hemorrhagic types, will not disappear). A rash in the form of single elements begins to appear on the abdomen, buttocks, heels, legs and spreads throughout the body in a matter of hours.

Meningococcal infection is characterized by rapid progression. There are so-called fulminant forms of infection, in which less than a day passes from the onset of the first symptoms (high fever) to death.

Composition of vaccines against meningococcus

Currently, vaccines against meningococcus subgroups A, C, W135, Y, etc. are being produced in the world. The vaccine against meningococcus group B has been developed by a number of foreign companies, and is currently undergoing large-scale pre-licensing trials. In our country they are produced domestic vaccines MENINGOCOCCAL A and A + C; and also registered foreign analogues from various manufacturers: MENINGO A+S. All of these are polysaccharide vaccines, that is, those that contain polysaccharides1 of the cell wall of meningococcus, and not the entire microbe. These preparations do not contain preservatives or antibiotics.

1 Polysaccharides are the general name for carbohydrates; are structural elements of various tissues.

Immunization regimens against meningococcus

Vaccines against meningococcus are recommended for administration to people in areas of infection, as well as for routine use in children over 18 months of age, adolescents and adults living in areas with high incidence rates or traveling to such regions. Also, vaccination against meningococcal infection is necessary (according to WHO recommendations) for mass vaccination during epidemics caused by meningococci of groups A and C.

Domestic vaccines - MENINGOCOCCAL A, A + C - are used from 18 months, and are also administered to adolescents and adults. These drugs can also be administered to children under 18 months of age if there is a sick person in the family, or depending on the epidemic situation in the region, but this measure does not create long-term, lasting immunity, and vaccination must be repeated after 18 months.

The vaccine is administered once, subcutaneously under the shoulder blade or in the upper third of the shoulder. Children from 1 year to 8 years old - 0.25 ml of the dissolved drug, and older children and adults - 0.5 ml.

The MENINGO A+C vaccine is administered to children from 2 years of age and adults, 0.5 ml once, subcutaneously under the shoulder blade or in the upper third of the shoulder. Children from 6 months. You can use this vaccine if there is a sick person in the family, but the effectiveness will be less high and repeated vaccinations will be needed. Six-month-old babies, if they are taken to an area dangerous for meningococcal meningitis, must be vaccinated no later than two weeks before departure so that immunity has time to develop. Children over 6 years of age and adults can be vaccinated immediately before departure.

Children vaccinated before 2 years of age are given a second dose after 3 months and then given another vaccination - once after 3 years.

When vaccinating children over 2 years of age, the effectiveness of vaccination reaches 85-95%, and after 3 years a single revaccination is recommended to maintain immunity. In adults, after a single immunization, protection lasts for 10 years.

In regions where the incidence of meningococcal meningitis is episodic, there are groups of children and adults who must receive this vaccination. These are patients with a removed spleen, with immunodeficiencies, including AIDS patients, and people with anatomical defects of the skull. If there is a high risk of the disease, even pregnant women are vaccinated.

There are no permanent contraindications for vaccination. Temporary - the same as for hemophilus influenza vaccination.

Body response

Vaccines against meningococcal disease are well tolerated. In 25% of vaccinated people, a post-vaccination local reaction is possible in the form of soreness and redness of the skin at the injection site. Sometimes there is a slight increase in temperature, which normalizes after 24-36 hours.

These vaccines are not required for routine immunization in our country, but you need to know about them, especially for those parents whose child is at high risk of developing meningococcal infection, or those who are planning a vacation in countries with unfavorable conditions for the spread of this infection (some countries Africa). In such situations, it is necessary to think about vaccination in advance. It is necessary to remember about the possibility of such protection even if the child has been in contact with a patient with meningococcal infection.

Vaccination against pneumococcal infection

The third large group of microbes that cause purulent meningitis are pneumococci. They are also the causative agents of severe pneumonia, joint damage, and purulent inflammation. Pneumococci are transmitted by airborne droplets from people sick with various forms of pneumococcal infection and its carriers. Young children, patients with immunodeficiency conditions, including HIV infection, and people over 65 years of age are most susceptible to the disease.

Pneumococcal pneumonia accounts for up to 50% of all pneumonia. As a result of this disease, several segments or lobes of the lung are affected, and the entire organ as a whole may be affected - the so-called lobar pneumonia. Often these problems are accompanied by damage to the pleura (pleurisy).

In the structure of bacterial meningitis, pneumococcus accounts for 20-30%. Purulent pneumococcal meningitis has common features with other bacterial meningitis, but is distinguished by its frequent combination with pneumonia, cardiac complications and the severity of residual conditions, such as mental development, deafness, etc.

Recently, an increasing number of pneumococci have become insensitive to antibiotics, which complicates treatment and makes it more expensive.

Composition of the vaccine against pneumococcal infection

Immunization has become an important factor in the prevention of pneumococcal infection. One foreign pneumococcal vaccine is registered in Russia: PNEUMO 23. This drug contains polysaccharides of the cell walls of the 23 most common subtypes of pneumococcus.

Pneumococcal vaccination schedule

The vaccine is given to children from 2 years of age and adults, once, in an amount of 0.5 ml, subcutaneously or intramuscularly. Immunization is indicated for all children who often suffer from respiratory infections, especially those with repeated bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial mucosa), pneumonia (pneumonia), otitis (ear inflammation), as well as chronic diseases leading to decreased immunity, and immunodeficiency states.

When vaccinating patients with immunodeficiency, it is recommended to repeat the vaccination once every 5 years.

Separately, it should be said about the need for routine vaccination of patients with chronic diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lungs, liver, kidneys, diabetes mellitus, oncological processes, including after bone marrow transplantation, removal of the spleen, infected with HIV, since this category of children and adults may be an extremely severe infection with a fatal outcome.

It is important to note that the PNEUMO 23 vaccine, like ACT - Hib, reduces the incidence of respiratory diseases and is therefore indicated for frequently ill children attending child care institutions. If necessary, even pregnant women in the last trimester are vaccinated (if there was contact with a patient with a severe form of infection, and the risk of infection for the fetus, as well as the risk of infection for the woman, is significantly higher than the risk of complications from vaccination).

Body response

In 3-5% of vaccinated people, the usual post-vaccination local reactions may appear - slight redness, soreness, thickening. General post-vaccination reactions also occur rarely and are characterized by fever, headache, and malaise. It is extremely rare that general allergic complications of the vaccination process may occur in the form of an allergic rash.

Temporary contraindications to vaccination are common - acute diseases and exacerbation of chronic diseases. In this case, as with other vaccinations, the vaccine should be given no earlier than 2-4 weeks after recovery.

Permanent contraindications to this vaccine are severe allergic reactions to the components of the vaccine or complications that arose after the administration of the previous dose of the drug.

Vaccination against pneumococcus can be carried out at the request of the patient or the child’s parents in paid offices and commercial vaccination centers.

Thus, all three vaccines protect the child from bacterial meningitis and from a number of other diseases. They cannot be called cheap, but the cost of treating the disease is much more expensive, not to mention the cost of possible consequences when the child dies or becomes disabled.

The most important task of parents is the health of the baby; First of all, they are responsible for the child’s condition, so they need to know about all the possibilities of modern preventive medicine.

Susanna Harit
pediatrician, head of the immunoprophylaxis department of the Research Institute of Children's Infections of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation,
Chief freelance specialist in vaccine prevention for children of the St. Petersburg Health Committee, Doctor of Medical Sciences
Elena Chernyaeva
pediatrician, vaccine prevention clinic, Research Institute of Childhood Infections, St. Petersburg
Article from the July issue of the magazine
05/29/2008 14:05:56, Svetlana

Of course, vaccinations must be done, but after judiciously assessing the child’s condition. We had atopic dermatitis and we fought with the pediatrician for a long time, postponing vaccinations. However, having defeated the disease, they did mandatory vaccinations without complications and we are going to get vaccinated against hemophilus influenzae, I think we’ll stop there.

08.11.2005 15:16:38, Elena

Well, am I first?
The article is like an article, get vaccinated and get vaccinated, but aren’t there too many vaccinations in the first 3 years of children’s lives? If we consider, as Onishchenko said, Ch. rank Russian doctor that every vaccination is biological. Opnration, then a child of the first year of life constantly produces antibodies against very serious diseases at the same time. It seems to me that this is a heavy burden on the immune system and the body as a whole!

07/21/2005 14:26:10, MARUSYA 36