Cartoon illustration of patient with bacterial meningitis
World Meningitis Day is celebrated on April 24 each year to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, the disease itself, and increasing knowledge of available vaccines.
Normal meninges vs infected meninges
What Is Meningitis?
Meningitis is a potentially lethal disease that affects more than 1 million people worldwide each year. Meningitis is an infection that affects the delicate membranes ― called meninges ― that cover the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by different pathogens: fungal meningitis is rare and generally only occurs in people with weakened immune systems, whereas viral meningitis tends to be less severe and most people recover without specific therapy, while bacterial meningitis can be deadly and contagious among people in close contact. It is important to know the specific cause of meningitis because the treatment differs depending on the cause.
If someone is exhibiting any of these symptoms, seek medical advice immediately. Bacterial meningitis can kill in hours.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
Meningitis is not always easy to recognize. In the early stages in young children and adolescents, the symptoms can be like a common cold. The classic signs of meningitis are a headache and stiff neck, and in babies ― bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the head in babies), blank staring look and limpness. Sometimes the patient will have a rash that first looks like small blood spots then appears like larger bruises. Meningitis can develop rapidly over a few hours often leaving doctors little time for proper diagnosis and treatment.
About half of bacterial meningitis cases occur in children under 5 years old and infants have a higher risk.
Who is at risk of meningitis?
Meningitis can affect anyone at any age and cause death within 24 hours. Approximately half of bacterial meningitis cases occur in children under 5 years old and infants have a higher risk. A second meningococcal disease peak occurs in adolescents and young adults. The elderly (over the age of 65) have a high risk of dying from it. Adults and children with a weakened immune system and those who have skipped routine recommended vaccinations have a higher risk of infection.
What are the ways to prevent meningitis?
Stay healthy. Maintain your immune system by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Also, be sure to get the sleep you need.
Practice good hygiene. Don't share drinks, food, eating utensils, lip balms or toothbrushes with anyone. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose.
Wash your hands.
Wash your hands. Careful and thorough hand-washing helps prevent the spread of germs. Teach children to wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet, spending time in crowded public places or petting animals.
Vaccination is the key to tackling meningitis.
Get vaccinated. Some forms of bacterial meningitis are preventable with the following: (1) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, (2) Pneumococcal vaccine, (3) Meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Getting vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox can help prevent diseases that can lead to viral meningitis. New vaccines are being developed to protect against other common causes of meningitis.
Don’t wait until it threatens the life of someone you care about. Learn what to look for and trust your instincts. Learn the symptoms to protect you and your loved ones. Act now and spread the word! Tell others about World Meningitis Day!
Trust Your Instincts
Dr. Melvin Sanicas, vaccinologist and public health physician is a regional medical expert at Sanofi Pasteur, a consultant for the World Health Organization, and an agenda contributor for the World Economic Forum. He was a Global Health Fellow and Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where he managed the Collaboration for TB Vaccine Discovery. He is a partner at the Brighton Collaboration, a fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and a fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health.