Get your Child Vaccinated today!! #TogetherAgainstMeningitis
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We protect our children from harm every way we can, but at times we feel so helpless when our child is ill or suffering from a disease. The worst is the constant worries:
How could we have avoided this?
What did we do wrong?
How can we save our child from misery?
Our government has started the vaccination program to protect our children from various deadly debilitating diseases. Unfortunately, few important vaccines are not yet covered in the Immunization schedule.1
Reading about the vaccines got me thinking about meningococcal meningitis.
Let me share my understanding of Meningococcal Meningitis.2
It’s caused by the bacteria, Neisseria Meningitis. It could cause an infection of Meninges (the protective covering surrounding the brain and spinal cord) which is most common or even septicemia (blood infection).
It is more dangerous than it appears to be
It’s a rare but very infective disease that progresses fast. It spreads through basic things such as coughs or sneezes. It can even cause death in less than 24 hours (10-15 people out 100).3 The symptoms are so minor like fever, headache, a stiff neck, irritability.4
If left undiagnosed or diagnosed too late, meningococcal meningitis can have really bad consequences such as mental retardations, hearing loss, amputation, and even irreversible brain damage.
Anyone can get this disease
Most often young children below 5 years, young adults, and adolescents are prone to meningococcal meningitis. In rare cases, some people have the bacteria in their nose (they are called carriers).5 It could lead to infection according to the immunity of exposed individuals.6,7 People living in dormitories, meetings in crowded places, medical conditions that weaken immunity, etc. are triggers to this disease. That is why building immunity is so crucial during childhood.
You can prevent your child from getting meningococcal meningitis
It’s said “Prevention is the best cure” meningococcal meningitis vaccination is available. There are few types of vaccines and talking to your doctor before getting vaccinated is a must.8
The good thing about this vaccine is, it can be given to children as young as 9 months and is crucial for providing comprehensive protection against acute bacterial meningitis.9
Doesn’t that sound like the perfect ally you’d like on your side against this deadly disease?
There must certainly be some side effects, in case you’re wondering.10
It’s a very safe vaccine but like any other vaccine it has a few side effects like fever, tiredness, redness where the shot is given, muscle pain, vomiting. But these are mild and will go away quickly. Your doctor will guide you in the right direction, so make sure you share your inhibitions.
Let’s keep our child protected and shielded.
Let’s get our child vaccinated.
Be Healthy, Be Happy.
Join the movement against Meningococcal Meningitis today!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views solely of the blogger. This is a part of the public awareness initiative on meningitis supported by Sanofi Pasteur India. Sanofi Pasteur bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health-related information. This article is meant to help create awareness and spread knowledge. Any decision regarding your health and child’s health should be done after consultation with your doctor. While all efforts are made to keep articles updated, the speed of research in these fields mean the information often may change when more research knowledge is available. Living herself or the authors should be in no way held responsible in that case.
References:
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323005378_National_Immunization_Schedule_India_A_Review
- https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/meningococcal-vaccine#4
- https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html
- http://www.comomeningitis.org/facts-about-meningitis/symptoms/
- https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/meningococcal-meningitis
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6422a3.htm
- https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/meningococcal-vaccine#2
- https://www.indianpediatrics.net/dec2013/dec-1095-1108.htm
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/meningococcal-meningitis
- https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html
Meningococcal Meningitis is truly a debilitating disease from a bacterial infection. Thanks for sharing these facts. We got our son vaccinated against it.
Indeed it’s life threatening disease. And vaccine good way to tackle this
This is really very scary and i am so happy you have shared so much details about the same..I am going to share with friends!!
What a thoroughly informative post about this dangerous disease. I will share it ahead.
when i first read about the disease i was horrified. its great that you have been sharing such great insights about the disease and it’s vaccine because people really need to know. It’s a must have vaccine for kids.
Meningitis caused by mweningococcus is dangerous and awareness wiol help many people.
This surely is damn scary topic for a parent. Thank you so much for sharing such a detailed and helpful post. Will surely share this link ahead!
This vaccine is rally important for a child’s life. One must not neglect the importance of vaccination especially of deadly disease like Meningitis.