The disease can be fatal after only 24 hours

According to doctors, patients with meningococcal meningitis may die or become disabled after only 24 hours. Anyone can have meningitis, especially babies and young children.

Talking to PV, Mr. Tran Dac Phu, Director of Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Health said, encephalitis, meningitis caused by meningococcus is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningtidis. Meningococcal bacteria include 4 main groups: A, B, C and D, the most common groups A and B meningococcal.

Meningococcal bacteria that reside in the throat and nose areas of patients should be easily transmitted by inhalation when exposed to secretions when patients cough, discharge nasal secretions, or through saliva . Contagious diseases continued due to close or indirect mediated exposure of shared items with respiratory secretions of healthy carriers.

Mr. Phu said, in our country, in the past, meningitis caused by meningococcal brain appeared, but now, there are only scattered cases, mainly appearing in mountainous areas.The disease occurs mainly in the spring.

Explaining the causes of meningococcal disease decreased compared to the previous time, experts said that because the sanitation, environmental factors and the sense of prevention of the people better make the disease decrease. In addition, treatment for patients has been more effective, preventing spread.

Infants and young children are the two most vulnerable subjects.

The risk of infection with meningitis is high

Doctor Nguyen Thi Thu Trang - Vaccination Advice Department - Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases also said that anyone can have meningitis, in which babies and young children are two Most susceptible to disease.

In particular, daily contacts such as kissing, sharing tools, bowls, cups, contact with many people such as living in dormitories, campsites . can lead to the risk of disease transmission. Meningitis caused by meningococcus. When the body is tired, a weakened immune system increases the likelihood of infection.

The disease occurs suddenly with symptoms of high fever, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, fatigue, may have sore throat, dotted or hemorrhagic plaques, stellar purpura or may have blisters. Meningococcal bacteria cause brain damage, loss of hearing and learning ability, more severe than blood infection.

These symptoms are quite similar to normal viral meningitis. Therefore, the disease is difficult to detect in the early stages. Meanwhile, meningococcal infection can lead to death or disability within 24 hours because the disease progresses very quickly.

If the patient is fortunate to survive, he may have serious sequelae such as the removal of limbs, fingers, toes, leaving brain damage, hearing loss, kidney damage and mental problems. physical.

Measures to prevent meningitis

In order to prevent encephalitis and meningitis caused by meningococcus, to avoid spreading in the community, Tran Dac Phu recommends, first of all, people need to perform well personal hygiene with simple notes as usual. Wash your hands with soap, rinse mouth and throat with regular nasal antiseptic solutions. To well clean the place of residence, have a good place to live and work.

For young children, parents need to actively vaccinate their children for vaccination . Current vaccines are injected at service vaccination facilities.

"When there is a high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, need to go to the medical facility immediately for examination and timely treatment" , the Director of Preventive Medicine Department emphasized.