Meningitis Essay

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Recommended: Should immunization be mandatory for children

POSITIVE PARENTING
By Malaysian Paediatric Association (MPA)
Secretariat: VersaComm Sdn Bhd (263773-W)

Title Making it Compulsory
Issue PPG 1-2014
Section Child Health, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Meningitis

Acting quick can save your child’s life
If your child has meningitis, determining the specific cause of his infection could be a matter of life and death.

By Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist.

Meningitis is the inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. This inflammation is caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

It can occur as a response to infection (bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi) or due to physical injury, cancer, or the body’s reaction to certain drugs. Although meningitis is not restricted to any one particular age group, children below two years of age face the highest risk. Protecting them with early immunisation is the key to preventing the disastrous consequences of the disease.

Meningitis has been found to be much more common in developing countries. Environmental factors such as exposure to smoke, as well as medical conditions and immunodeficiencies can make you more susceptible to the disease.

The types of meningitis
There are several possible types of meningitis, which includes bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, parasitic meningitis, fungal meningitis and non-infectious meningitis.

• Bacterial meningitis: Bacterial meningitis can be a life-threatening infection, and is caused by bacteria such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. These organisms are not as contagious as the common cold or flu, but they can spread through activities such as kissi...

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...nger immunity period and can be used in children. Currently, vaccination against other more common causes of meningitis, which include Hib, measles and mumps are included as part of the Malaysian National Immunisation Programme. Unfortunately, MCV4 is not included.

Maintaining good personal hygiene may lower your chances of getting infected or spreading the disease to others. However, the best option is still to make sure that you and your child are vaccinated. Don’t wait for a tragedy to happen. Ask your child’s paediatrician or doctor about meningitis prevention or call your health-care provider to schedule a vaccination appointment.

Ref:
a) http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/index.html
b) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3105449/
c) http://www.meningitis.org/disease-info/what-are-meningitis-septicaemia
d) http://www.meningitis.org/who-can-be-affected

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