MENINGITIS


Prevention


Immunization against some of the organisms that can cause meningitis is the most effective way to prevent the illness. Some causes of meningitis that can be prevented by vaccines include:

  • Measles, mumps, and rubella viruses
  • Varicella (chickenpox) virus
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) virus
  • Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria

Breast-feeding

Breast-feeding may protect children ages 2 to 5 months against meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. However, it is still important to give breast-fed babies the Hib vaccine.


Freshmen And Student

Although students have overall risk of meningitis from Neisseria meningitidis bacteria is low, freshmen, especially those who live in dormitories, have a moderately higher risk than other people their age. If you are a college freshman living in a dormitory, the CDC recommends the meningococcal vaccine (MCV4). College freshmen who do not live in dormitories may also be vaccinated to reduce their risk of infection.


Cochlear implants

An association has been found between meningitis and cochlear implants for severe hearing loss. To help protect against meningitis from Streptococcus pneumoniae, experts recommend that people with cochlear implants get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Also, some people with implants have ear infections before they get meningitis, so people with implants should receive prompt antibiotic treatment for ear infections.


Other prevention

There are a few steps to reduce the risk to get meningitis. Its also can reduce the rate of spreading meningitis by following steps:

  • Avoiding people who have meningitis
  • Separating people with meningitis from other people in the home
  • Washing your hands often if you have meningitis or are caring for someone with meningitis
  • Avoiding insects and rodents that carry organisms that cause meningitis
  • Taking antibiotics may keep you from getting the illnessIf you come in close contact with someone who has bacterial meningitis
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