Meningococcal disease: what you should know. Your Pharmacist Informs скачать в хорошем качестве

Meningococcal disease: what you should know. Your Pharmacist Informs

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. There are numerous microorganisms that can cause meningitis, with bacterial meningitis being one of the most worrisome. Therefore, in today's video tip we are going to talk about invasive meningococcal disease caused by the bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. It is a rare but very serious disease characterized by its difficult diagnosis and rapid progression that can lead to life-threatening complications or even death. One in ten cases of meningococcal meningitis will die, sometimes within 24 hours, despite treatment. And one in five survivors suffers long-term consequences such as brain damage, amputations, hearing loss and nervous system problems. The spread of the disease is facilitated by close and prolonged contact with an infected person, such as through kissing, sneezing, coughing or sharing crockery and cutlery. It is believed that 10 to 20% of the population carries the bacteria. Specially adolescents are the main carriers and transmitters of the disease due to the typical behavior and social environment in which they live. We are talking about living in shared accommodations such as university residences, attendance to crowded places such as bars, discos... and intimate contacts. As for the initial signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis, these are usually varied and non-specific and can lead to added difficulty in diagnosis. The most common symptoms are high fever, headache, photophobia, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck and confusion. Meningitis is a disease that in more than 95% of cases occurs in previously healthy people, with no known risk factors. Furthermore, although we know that it can affect any age, it is a disease that predominantly affects children, appearing most frequently in children under 5 years of age, and especially in infants under one year of age, followed by a second peak of incidence in adolescence. Is there treatment for meningococcal meningitis? Regarding the existing treatment for meningococcal meningitis, we should know that once the infection has occurred, it can be treated with antibiotics, but, because its evolution can be very rapid, these drugs may not be effective in the treatment of meningococcal meningitis. Do not forget that vaccines require a medical prescription, i.e. they must be prescribed by the physician for their dispensation, and must always be used in accordance with official recommendations. In addition, they are not replaceable, so with the prescription we will ensure that we always dispense the same preparation and complete the regimen correctly. 1. Meningitis. World Health Organization (WHO) [internet] 2021. [Accedido en marzo 2023] Disponible en: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sh... 2. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397-403. 3. En Familia. Meningococo y meningitis bacteriana. Asociación Española de Pediatría. [Internet] [Acceso marzo 2023]. Disponible en: https://enfamilia.aeped.es/prevencion... 4. Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Informe Semanal de Vigilancia epidemiológica en España. Boletín Epidemiológico Semanal en RED [Internet]. Boletín nº 42, semana 40 de 2022. . Disponible en: https://www.isciii.es/QueHacemos/Serv... 5. Guía de Práctica Clínica sobre el Manejo de la Enfermedad Meningocócica Invasiva. Anexo 1. Información para pacientes. Enfermedad Meningocócica Invasiva. Disponible en: https://portal.guiasalud.es/wp-conten... 6. Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Enfermedad meningocócica. Vigilancia de la temporada 2017-2018 [Internet]. RENAVE; 2018 [acceso marzo 2023]. Disponible en: https://www.isciii.es/QueHacemos/Serv... 7. Calendario Común de Vacunación a lo largo de toda la vida. Calendario recomendado año 2023. [Internet] Consejo Interterritorial Sistema Nacional de Salud [Acceso marzo 2023]. Disponible en: https://www.sanidad.gob.es/profesiona... 8. Ivanova-Markova Y, González-Domínguez A, Hidalgo A, Sánchez R, García-Agua N, García-Ruiz AJ, Amanda Vallejo-Aparicio L, García A, Rodriguez R, de Gomensoro E, Gonzalez-Inchausti MDC, Shen J, Begum N, Tafalla M. Cost of illness of invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis in Spain. Vaccine. 2021 Dec 20;39(52):7646-7654