Preventing meningitis caused by meningococcus

Recently, the occurrence of cases of meningitis, including cases of meningococcal bacteria, also called meningococcal meningitis (VMNMC) in some southern provinces has caused psychological bewildered in the community.

Recognize meningitis caused by meningococcus

This is an infectious disease of humans, which can cause epidemics, especially in children and young people. The disease has a high mortality rate if not detected early and treated properly.

Image of meningococcal bacteria (Photo: TTO) Respiratory diseases, in less capacity, can be transmitted through contact with hands and personal items contaminated with bacteria from patient's specimens . After recovering from the disease, the patient is immune to meningococcal bacteria, but the duration of immunity is not long, about 2-3 years, the person can still be re-infected or infected with another type of bacteria.

After entering the upper respiratory tract cells, causing nasopharyngitis, cough, high fever, myalgia, headache, nausea, possible seizures, decreased muscle tone, and manifestations of paralysis, face, perceptual loss . From the upper respiratory tract, bacteria continue to penetrate into the blood through the lymphatic system, into the cerebrospinal cavity or some other organs such as joints, pericardium . causing Inflammation, pain in these organs.

Depending on the location of invasion, virulence of the bacteria as well as the resistance of the body that leads to mild nasopharyngitis to sepsis or paroxysmal death. VMNMC's mortality rate is 5-10%, leaving many serious neurological and aesthetic sequelae.

VMNMC in our country has not appeared yet

VMNMC appears in all regions of our country, mainly in the North, especially in the winter-spring and late autumn and early winter, due to the cold and wet weather associated with the season of other infectious diseases caused by bacteria and virus. In the South, the disease is less common, the number of illnesses usually increases in the period of May to July. The disease is common in children and young people who live in dormitories, schools, rookies or others. densely populated areas with poor sanitation.

So far, the Ministry of Health's mandatory surveillance and reporting system has only identified the number of meningitis in general, often referred to as the Meningitis Syndrome but has not isolated the diseases due to other causes. each other, including VMNMC.

In the last months of 2005 and early 2006, the number of meningitis syndrome tends to increase slightly compared to the same period last year in the whole country. Across the North, this time an average of 20-30 cases of meningitis per month is declared. At the National Hospital of Pediatrics and the Institute of Clinical Medicine for Tropical Diseases in the first 11 weeks of 2006, it exceeded 100 cases, mostly children.

In the southern provinces, the number of meningitis cases averages 5-10 cases per month, particularly in February, the number of cases was reported as 20 cases and deaths were reported. In March, the South appeared meningitis - encephalitis that could be an intestinal virus.

Although the number of meningitis has increased significantly in the country over the past time, it has not yet developed into a pandemic, because most cases are localized. Particularly, VMNMC only has a few cases. This is more clearly defined than encephalitis in general and VMNMC in particular has not yet appeared.

The cause of the recent increase in disease mainly due to the winter-spring climate this year has many unusual points not conducive to human health. The South is in the dry season but after Tet, there are many unseasonal rains, creating favorable conditions for disease-causing bacteria to develop. Moreover, this is a time of high population fluctuations among regions because of festivals, tourism .

Tests have shown no changes in the biological, chemical and virulence properties of pathogenic strains of bacteria from specimens.

How to limit the rise of the disease?

Preventive health services should strengthen monitoring of patients with meningitis syndrome - encephalitis, especially in areas where VMNMC patients are identified. Meningitis can be caused by many agents, so in addition to diagnosing the disease according to clinical symptoms, it is necessary to obtain specimens such as mucous throat, venous blood or cerebrospinal fluid taken to laboratories to determine the cause. . If a VMNMC case is detected, it is necessary to quickly and resolutely take measures to delineate and quench the epidemic as soon as possible.

For people, to maintain a sanitary lifestyle, keep a clean living environment, because the cause of meningitis can be respiratory, digestive or contact with contaminated objects. Particularly for VMNMC, in addition to measures to keep environmental hygiene often open, plenty of light, it is necessary to maintain oral hygiene, pharyngeal and throat.

VMNMC's symptoms of upper respiratory tract manifestations should be taken immediately to medical facilities. If VMNMC is identified, it is necessary to limit gatherings, everyone should wear a medical mask. Alternatively, emergency oral antibiotics may be administered as directed by a physician.

Currently, there are VMNMC type A and C vaccines, but the protection period is low (2-3 years) and the cost is high, so it is only for people who live in areas with epidemic risk.