Bacterial meningitis is a disease that can occur at any time of the year. It is most commonly seen in children, especially those under 5 years old. If not detected early and treated promptly, it can lead to complications such as deafness, mutism, and neurological damage.
 |
| Bacterial meningitis is common in children under 5 years old (Photo: Ngôi sao) |
Dr. Nguyễn Văn Lộc, Deputy Director of the Central Pediatric Hospital, stated that the cause of bacterial meningitis (BM) can be bacteria or viruses, with Haemophilus influenzae being the leading culprit.
Bacterial Meningitis: Early Hospitalization is Crucial…
This type of bacteria accounts for 70% of meningitis cases in children. The disease often appears following infections in the ear, nose, and throat, where the bacteria enter the meninges and cause BM.
Additionally, BM can spread through the bloodstream to the brain. It is prevalent among children, particularly those under 5 years old, although older children and adults can also contract the disease. Signs to watch for include runny nose, stiff neck, severe headache, high fever, projectile vomiting, and lethargy (infants may shake their heads when they have a headache, and bulging fontanelle may be observed in newborns). Children under 3 months may not have a fever but can show signs of refusal to eat, crying excessively, or sleeping more than usual.
Children primarily affected are those aged 0-36 months. BM spreads through respiratory droplets, nasal secretions, and saliva, so isolating the infected child is essential. If not detected early and treated promptly, late diagnosis could lead to complications such as deafness, paralysis, cognitive impairment, and mutism. However, if the disease is detected early, children can return to normal after treatment.
To ensure recovery without complications, children must be hospitalized early, treated with strong antibiotics, and remain in the hospital for several days. In cases of viral meningitis, antibiotic treatment is necessary, but the hospital stay may only last between 3 to 5 days.
Dr. Lộc warns that BM is a very dangerous disease and treatment can be costly, so prevention is vital. Parents should consider vaccinating their children against Haemophilus influenzae and pneumococcus.
Even during an outbreak of BM, parents can still have their children vaccinated because antibodies against the disease can develop within 3 to 4 days after vaccination.
During changing weather conditions, to prevent BM, it is essential to keep children warm and provide good care during these times, especially during flu outbreaks.
Prevention is Better than Cure
Timely treatment is necessary to prevent prolonged nasal and throat infections, and immediate treatment is required if a child shows symptoms like flu or fever. Doctors also remind parents that BM and Japanese encephalitis are two different diseases. Therefore, even if a child has been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis, they can still contract BM.
Vaccination can start at 2-3 months of age or at any time for children under 5, following this schedule: Children aged 2 to 6 months receive 3 doses, each one month apart, with a booster at 18 months. Children aged 7 to 11 months receive 2 doses one month apart, with a booster at 18 months. Children aged 12 to 14 months receive 1 dose and a booster at 18 months. Children aged 15 to 59 months receive a single dose.
