Meningitis is a dangerous disease caused by an infectious agent that occurs in adults and children. It often develops against the background of a weakening of the body's immune forces. Therefore, the vaccine against meningitis is a very important event that can protect the patient from a serious illness.
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What is the meningitis vaccine called?
Infection with meningitis can occur from different serotypes of the pathogen, therefore, a single vaccine for the prevention of the disease does not exist. What is the meningitis vaccine called and in what cases is it given? Vaccination is carried out not only for preventive purposes, but also in a tense epidemiological situation for both children and adults.
Vaccination can be made from various compositions of the components, since various bacteria can act as an infectious agent of meningitis.
The most dangerous pathogens of the pathology, proceeding in the form of a severe purulent process, are:
- meningococci - Neisseria meningitidis;
- Haemophilus influenzae type B - Haemophilus influenzae type B;
- pneumococci - Pneumococcus.
It is against these very aggressive pathogens that drugs are made that vaccinate children and adults. These infectious agents, once in the body, freely cross the blood-brain barrier and penetrate the central nervous system, causing inflammation of the meninges.
Sometimes viruses can provoke the development of serous meningitis, including the causative agent of chickenpox, which is often found in young children from 3 to 6 years. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the soft membrane of the brain with the production of serous secretion.
The course of the process is easier compared to purulent meningitis, but can lead to various complications.
Types of meningococcal vaccines for children and adults
Vaccination against meningitis is not included in the list of vaccinations. Mass vaccination of the population is carried out only in case of an epidemic of meningitis and only in its foci. In normal times, this vaccine is given to the child at the request of the parents and the recommendations of the pediatrician if indicated.
The medical industry does not produce a single vaccine for meningococcal infection, since the disease is caused by various kinds of pathogens. Vaccination of adults and children is carried out with authorized vaccines that act selectively on a certain type of pathogen.
The meningitis vaccine used in practice is divided into several groups. These are polysaccharide, protein and conjugated groups that form immunity from various forms of the pathogen.
Meningococcal vaccine:
- protects against serotypes A and C, but does not develop immunity from purulent meningococcal infection. Vaccination is recommended for children from 1.5 years, but after 3 years, revaccination is carried out;
- trivacine - contains the bodies of viruses A, C, W;
- Meningo A + C - prevents the development of meningitis of cerebrospinal localization. It is carried out for adults and children from 1.5 years;
- Mentsevax ACWY - prevents the development of meningococcal infection caused by serogroups of meningococci A, C, W, Y. Vaccination of children from 2 years of age, as well as adults, is allowed;
- Menactra - the vaccine is designed to develop immunity to pathogens of serogroups A, C, Y, W-135 with the possibility of use for children from 1.5 years old and adults up to 55 years old.
All vaccines are available in dry form. The kit for vaccination includes a special solvent. A vaccine injection is prepared immediately before use.
Pneumococcal vaccine:
- Pneumo 23 - children from 2 years old are vaccinated. The vaccine gives immunity for 10 years;
- Prevenar 13 - This vaccine against meningitis in children is carried out from 2 months to 5 years. Gives lifelong immunity with 4 single vaccinations.
Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine:
- ACT-HIB - designed to prevent the occurrence of not only meningitis, but also other infections, the causative agent of which is hemophilic bacillus;
- Hiberix is a similar vaccine that helps children develop stable immunity for 4 years.
Preventive vaccination is carried out in the absence of contraindications for a certain type of vaccine only on the recommendation of a doctor.
Important! The composition of the vaccine consists of individual particles of the virus, therefore, does not pose a risk of infection in a child.
When vaccinated
Vaccination is carried out in accordance with recommendations for its use, both taking into account a certain type of pathogen and the patient's age limit. The timing of vaccinations depends on the contact of a child or adult with a sick person.
In each case, these features must be taken into account. In addition, the epidemiological situation of the outbreak where the infected object is located is evaluated.
The timing of vaccinations, taking into account the type of vaccine:
- hemophilic vaccine - vaccination is carried out in several stages. Its quantity will depend on the time when the first vaccine was given. On the recommendation of a specialist, the child must be vaccinated at the age of 3, 4, 5 months and six months. Revaccination should be carried out after 12 months;
- pneumococcal vaccine - the first vaccination is done in 2 months, the next in 4.5 months, and then after 15 months;
- meningococcal vaccine - vaccination is given once to children from 2 years.If the child was in contact with a sick patient, then the introduction of the first vaccine is allowed strictly from six months of the child's life, followed by vaccination after 3 months. Revaccination is carried out after 3 years.
The meningitis vaccine is indicated not only for children but also for adults.
Indications for vaccination against meningitis for this contingent are:
- HIV infected patients
- medical workers, especially in the infectious diseases departments of the hospital;
- cancer patients;
- persons traveling abroad to regions with unfavorable epidemiological conditions for meningitis;
- patients in contact with patients with meningitis;
- often ill patients with weakened immunity.
Vaccination against meningitis in adults is carried out on the recommendation of a doctor, who determines the type of vaccine and the timing of it in each case.
Preparation for the procedure
Before vaccination, the child must be prepared. Before vaccination, the child donates blood and urine for a general analysis, the temperature is measured, and then examined by a doctor with an assessment of his objective data.
Only with normal laboratory data and the absence of pathological manifestations in the body, does the pediatrician solve the issue of vaccination.
If vaccination against meningitis is carried out by an adult, then it begins with a visit to the therapist. Preparation is carried out in the same volume as the child, but taking into account the absence of exacerbation of concomitant chronic pathologies from the side of internal organs.
Feasible side effects
In most cases, the vaccine is well tolerated by children and without consequences.
But sometimes side effects can occur in the following form:
- fever to subfebrile numbers;
- lethargy of a child, moodiness;
- at the injection site - hyperemia and swelling.
Such symptoms are not dangerous for the baby and after 1-2 days, the manifestations after vaccination are stopped without therapeutic assistance. The seal at the injection site may remain for some time.
In rare cases, a complication is possible in the form of a post-vaccination allergic reaction, manifested in the form of:
- urticaria;
- pallor of the skin;
- shortness of breath
- rapid breathing;
- tachycardia.
Such a response of the child's body is quickly stopped by medications without any consequences for the baby.
Contraindications to vaccination
Vaccination against meningococcal infection should be given to the child against the background of complete health.
Contraindications to vaccination are:
- the presence of acute viral infection;
- temperature rise;
- an allergic reaction of the body to individual components of the vaccine;
- any skin manifestations in the form of a rash or urticaria;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases of internal organs;
- abnormalities in the clinical analysis of blood or urine.
If the presence of one symptom or its combination takes place, vaccination of the child is postponed. In the presence of an exacerbation of chronic pathology, its treatment is necessary until complete recovery or transfer of the process to stable remission.
Vaccination of the child depends on the decision of the parents. Meningitis is a serious disease that gives serious complications in the form of delayed psychomotor development. Given that the vaccine leaves behind a stable immunity to the disease, and its good tolerance, vaccination is desirable and should be given.
