What kind of disease? How many types are there?
Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord is called meningitis. According to the agent, it may develop due to bacterial, viral, fungal or parasite infections. Among the bacterial ones are the most common meningococcal infections. Meningococci are transmitted by direct contact or droplet. During speech, coughing or sneezing, the droplets spread into the air and transmitted to people in the same environment by respiratory. 25 percent of the society is a carrier. When bacteria are contaminated to the sensitive people from the carriers, these people either become a carrier or become ill (1-7 days) shortly after the bacteria is infected. Meningococci accounts for about 90 percent of the causes of meningitis in the 0-18 age group. Every year, approximately 500 thousand meningococcal cases emerge in the world and cause 50 thousand deaths.
Why did menengitis come to the agenda in our country?
Bacterial meningitis is the most common cause of microbes: pneumococcal, haemophilus influenza type B and meningococcal. Vaccines against the first two are in the routine vaccine calendar and thus relevant cases have been reduced. However, the meningococcal vaccine is not yet necessary, it is optional and paid. Therefore, most of the cases of meningitis in recent years are meningococcal. Awareness has also increased with the increase of cases and reflection on the press.
Is there a outbreak threat?
Every year, especially after the influenza season, meningococcal cases increase. In the last 6 months, there is a slight increase in the number of cases compared to other years, but it would be wrong to evaluate it as an epidemic. According to the geography it is located, the dominant meningococcal types differ in countries, so it is not possible to make general interpretation.
In which age group is evident in meningitis cases?
In particular, infection is more common in children under 5 years of age and 11-18 age group adolescents. Those under 5 years of age are at risk because the immune systems are not fully developed, and the adolescents are also more frequent in crowded environments such as dormitories. Again, In people over 65 years of age, the risk of meningitis increases due to weakness in immune systems.
Why is mass vaccination important?
The higher the vaccination rates, the more the likelihood of infectious diseases is reduced. The most typical example is the flower disease. Thanks to the vaccine, the flower disease has disappeared all over the world. The high vaccination rate prevents the spread of the disease, thus ensuring that people with unscrupulous, low immunity are protected in secondary.
Are meningitis vaccines compulsory?
Meningococcal vaccines are not yet included in the routine vaccine program. It is applied specially. Since the vaccination rates of meningococcal vaccine are not at the desired level, we face periodic case increases. We see that in many countries of the world, routine vaccination program. We expect to be included in the routine vaccination program as soon as possible in our country.
In which situations should be repeated?
We recommend that primary vaccination be performed for both types of vaccines in children who have not previously been vaccinated. If at least 5 years have passed since ACYW vaccine, the vaccine repetition is appropriate. Nowadays, healthy children with 2 doses B -type meningococcal vaccine with a 2 -month interval are not required except for routine B type vaccine repetition except for the epidemic process.
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