World Meningitis Day brings attention to treatable disease

Today is the first World Meningitis Day.

  Sponsored by the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations, it is a day of action to raise awareness for access to information, access to vaccines, funding for research and development of vaccines, and quality of care.

  Established in 2004, the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations includes 24 worldwide organizations, with 10 in the U.S.

  "Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain," according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.  "Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss or learning disability."

  The disease is contagious, but it is treatable with antibiotics.
 Dr. Lisa Keller, infectious diseases clinical pharmacist with Yuma Regional Medical Center, said it's a disease where you want to get antibiotics as quickly as possible.

  To help prevent the disease, vaccines are available for some kinds of meningitis.

  "I think any time to get vaccines is very important," Keller said.

   Keller said health professionals are able to vaccinate against the three most common forms of meningitis.

  The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, which helps prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae, is a vaccine usually given to children under 2 years old.

  The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, which also helps prevent Streptococcus pneumoniae, is  usually given to adults over the age of 65 or anyone who has long-term health problems such as heart disease, lung disease, sickle cell disease or others.

  Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine helps prevent Hib disease that usually strikes children under 5 years old.

  Keller said others who are often required to get vaccinated for meningitis are people who are going to be in close quarters such as college students and military recruits. Others include children in daycare, those with weakened immune systems, people traveling where meningitis is common and/or an area where there's an outbreak, Keller said.

  To help prevent the spread of meningitis and to practice good hygiene in general, Keller said she recommends not sharing drinking and other utensils, tissues, towels, lipsticks or other similar items.

  "Always wash your hands," Keller said.

  For more information about World Meningitis Day and/or the disease, visit www.comoonline.org/ index.html or cdc.gov.

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.