children s health issues
Meningitis in Children
Prevention of Meningitis in Children
Routine Childhood Vaccination Schedules can prevent many cases of bacterial meningitis. People who have been in contact with someone who has meningitis are often given antibiotics to help prevent infection (called chemoprophylaxis). Women can be screened for group B streptococcus while pregnant and are given antibiotics at the time of delivery to prevent passing the bacteria to the newborn. Health care practitioners and parents can help prevent bacterial meningitis by ensuring that all young children receive the Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccine and the Doctors usually give antibiotics to people who have been in close contact with someone who has meningitis caused byNeisseria meningitidisorHaemophilus influenzae. Close contacts are defined somewhat differently depending on which of these two bacteria has caused the meningitis but they typically include Members of the household (especially those under 2 years of age) Workers at child care centers (especially workers in the infected child's classroom) Anyone who has been directly exposed to the infected child's saliva (such as through kissing or sharing toothbrushes or utensils, or health care personnel doing certain procedures) Exposed children who are not immunized or who are only partially immunized Exposed children who have a weakened immune system Chemoprophylaxis is given to close contacts as soon as the infected child has been identified. Ideally, it is given within 24 hours. Drugs for chemoprophylaxis includerifampin,ceftriaxone, andciprofloxacinand are selected depending on the age of the close contact. 