Meningococcal infection is an ailment in which breeding bacteria can lead to serious diseases. In particular, meningitis, sepsis, nasopharyngitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, or meningococcemia.
Meningitis
Meningitis is a meningococcal infection, which can be of two forms: primary and secondary. In the first case, pathogenic bacteria enter the body by airborne droplets. Through the throat, and then by overcoming the blood-brain barrier - into the lining of the brain. This form of the disease can be purulent or serous.
With serous meningitis, lymphocytes accumulate in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is caused by bacteria or viruses that cause tuberculosis. With purulent meningitis in the cerebrospinal fluid, neutrophils accumulate. This happens due to bacteria. Mostly meningococci A and C. Almost 40% of cases of the disease begin due to the hemophilic bacillus B. And only 2% are pneumonia.
Secondary meningitis affects the airways, oropharynx, ears, or salivary glands. Symptoms of diseases such as pneumonia or intestinal infection may occur. Then the bacteria penetrate through the lymph and blood, causing inflammation of the brain. Secondary meningitis is caused by staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, candida fungi, viruses, salmonella and other pathogens.
Are there epidemics?
A surge in meningococcal infection was observed in Russia in 1968. Cases of the disease were quite common. Therefore, vaccination against meningococcal infection became relevant. It was a real epidemic. But thanks to vaccinations, she gradually came to naught. And now this disease is not so common. For example, in 2000, out of one hundred thousand Russians, 8 were infected.
Children are more prone to this disease. And the reason lies in the lack of vaccination. But nasopharyngitis can be of different etiologies, and it is sometimes quite difficult to distinguish it from another disease. Therefore, the question of whether vaccinations against meningitis are needed, the answer will be yes. A disease is better to prevent initially than to treat it for a long time.
What causes meningococcal infection?
The causative agent of meningococcal infection is the bacteria Neisseria meningitides. The disease can occur in several forms. Most often in the form of meningitis (inflammation of the meninges). The causative agent (meningococcus Vekselbaum) is a gram-negative diplococcus. He does not have capsules and flagella, inactive. Does not form a dispute. The optimum temperature for bacterial growth is 37 degrees.
Where is meningococcal infection detected?
Meningococcal infection exists in all countries. But the highest incidence is in Central and West Africa. On the territory of Russia several foci of infection flared up several times. Therefore, a vaccination against meningococcal infection is necessary so that the disease does not take the form of an epidemic.
Complications of Meningitis
The disease is quite dangerous. If the vaccine against infection is not delivered on time, serious complications can occur. Often they are fatal. Failure to cure meningitis on time can lead to disability. There are several types of complications:
- Acute cerebral, namely: cerebral edema, cerebral infarction, ventriculitis. In addition to the above, subdural effusion, occlusion and the syndrome of inadequate excretion of ADH often occur.
- Acute extracerebral. Patients with meningitis can fall into a state of shock. DIC and hemorrhagic syndromes, hypoglycemia, dehydration, arthritis, pneumonia appear. Meningitis can also affect the gastrointestinal tract (ulcers, gastritis).
- Late complications. These include hydrocephalus, ataxia, deafness, blindness, cystic-adhesive arachnoiditis. Complications of meningitis can cause optic atrophy, brain abscess, anterior pituitary dysfunction. With late complications, neurological diseases appear, up to dementia. Sometimes diabetes occurs. In advanced form - a coma.
What vaccines are there?
In Russia, the foreign meningococcal infection vaccine Meningo A + C is most often used to prevent the disease. Or domestic A and S. Vaccine, which contains W-135 and Y, vaccinate only pilgrims leaving for Mecca. Containing meningococcus group B is not widely used. It has low immunogenicity and has a number of antigenic determinants, which can cause side effects and complications.
In order to avoid inflammation of the brain, a vaccine is given against meningococcal infection. The name may be different, since the vaccine has been created far from one: "Act-Hib", "Hiberix", "Tetr-Act-Hib", "Pentaxim" and several others. You can get them mostly for free, in almost any city clinic. True, some are sold only for money and can be very expensive.
For the prevention of pneumococcal meningitis , the Pneumo-23 vaccine is used. It is made in France. Vaccinations are given free of charge only to children at risk. All other comers - on a fee basis. These vaccines reduce the risk of the disease, not only meningitis, but also a number of other diseases (sepsis, pneumonia, etc.).
When and what vaccinations do?
The vaccines that are used most often contain polysaccharides. They are administered to children from 2 years. Such vaccines can protect the child for 3 years. But most often (more than 50% of cases), meningitis occurs in children under two years of age. They are vaccinated with a weak immune response. The vaccine against meningococcal infection of group A is used only for children older than one year, group C - only until the age of two. Vaccination is done only once.
Are there meningitis vaccines for infants?
Vaccines for infants are currently under development. Although serotype C vaccinations have already proven themselves. Thanks to this vaccine, the incidence of meningitis is reduced by 76%. In children under two years of age - by 90%. Work is currently underway on combination vaccines, which should contain 4 serotypes of meningococcus. Before vaccination, you should consult your doctor. You should not choose a vaccine for a child yourself, without consulting a specialist.
Do I need vaccinations against meningococcal infection?
Vaccination against meningococcal infection is done not only for the sake of prevention, but also when epidemics occur. Usually, the A + C vaccine is used, which is given at the risk of an epidemic. The entire population that lives dangerously close to the source of infection is vaccinated. But the epidemic threshold in any country is different. If the number of cases becomes greater than a certain established figure, then vaccination of the population is necessary.
This is especially true for children. Vaccination times are assigned according to the special vaccination calendar. According to him, they are made to children over two years of age, adolescents and adults with the resulting focus of meningococcal infection, which is caused by bacteria of serogroups A and C.
As well as people at increased risk of infection. Primary school students living in boarding schools and orphanages, in family hostels. The same applies to children from dysfunctional families, where sanitary conditions are violated. Since meningitis can get sick even from unwashed hands or fruits. Therefore, the creation of combination vaccines, especially for infants, is necessary.
Polysaccharide vaccines
As mentioned above, vaccinations “A + C” are mainly used for vaccination. At the injection site, there is some hyperemia and soreness (usually in 5% of vaccinated). Somewhat less often, an elevated temperature occurs, which normalizes within 1.5 days. When using some vaccines, it does not occur at all. Maximum - redness at the site of vaccination. Vaccines are contraindicated only for people suffering from chronic diseases, or for allergies to the components contained in them.
Do I need a vaccination against meningococcal infection?
Compulsory vaccination against meningitis was introduced in Russia several years ago. The disease is caused by a bacterium called a “hemophilic bacillus”. It can cause not only meningitis. And for example, otitis media, pneumonia and sinusitis. However, do not forget that meningitis can cause not only a hemophilic bacillus, but also many other microbes.
Vaccination for this disease is carried out in all countries of the world. Inflammation of the brain can be fatal. Vaccinations are given according to standard medical vaccination calendars simultaneously with DTP. Modern vaccines contain a component of HIB infection. Hemophilus influenzae, as scientists have found, can be of six types. The most dangerous for humans are type B microbes. Inoculations are generally given that contain a component of this disease in order to develop protective immunity.
Meningitis infection (hemophilus bacillus) is very dangerous for children under 5 years of age. Then there is no sense in doing vaccinations, as with age, immunity in people is automatically developed. Although it is impossible to completely protect a person from meningitis. You can only significantly reduce the risk of picking it up. Pneumococcus is also capable of causing various forms of meningitis. But there are vaccines against this microbe. The most dangerous bacteria that most often cause brain inflammation are called meningococci.
If contact has occurred
Vaccinations are necessary to prevent meningitis. Immunoglobulin is administered to children under 7 years of age, but no later than a week after contact with the patient. In this case, a child under 2 years of age is prescribed 1.5 ml, and older - 3 ml of vaccine. If a person is a carrier of the disease, then chemoprophylaxis is carried out for four days. If this is an adult, he is prescribed rifampicin twice a day for 0.3 grams.
Vaccinations for meningitis are done in advance, without waiting for a person to get sick. Amoxicillin is used instead of ampicillin. It has a great effect on pathogenic bacteria. In many countries, vaccinations are given to everyone who has had contact with patients. Vaccination is carried out within two days. Up to a year - from 5 to 10 mg / kg per day, from a year to 12 years - 10 mg / kg per day, or one inoculation of Ceftriaxone 200 mg is given. These vaccines have an excellent effect not only as a prophylaxis of meningitis, but also on meningococcal infections in contact with patients. Secondary meningitis can occur within a month. To avoid this, in the first 5 days after contact with a sick person, a vaccination should be done to prevent infection.