Immunize Your Child Against Meningitis – A Prolonged And Lethal But Preventable Disease

Being a parent, you always want a secure surrounding for your munchkin. And you do everything in your power to ensure that you are able to give that secure environment to your child.

But what if you get to know that despite your best efforts, you are still unable to protect your child against a deadly disease. A contagious disease which is spread by exposure to the infected fluid via coughing, sneezing, sharing utensils and more. Its initial symptoms present themselves in the form of a high fever, headache or other simple symptoms, but it can have many serious complications. About 15% of people who survive this disease are left with disabilities like deafness, brain damage and more. Want to know which disease this is? It’s meningitis.

What Is Meningitis?

Meningococcal meningitis, or simply meningitis, is a serious bacterial infection. It causes the membranes inside your brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. Several cases of it are reported each year in India. However, this disease, even if cured, can have prolonged side-effects on one’s health which can hinder their quality of life and functionality. Anyone, at any age, can get this disease. However, young adults, teens, and toddlers are among those who are at increased risk (1).

Effects Of Meningitis

It is a fatal disease that can claim one’s life rapidly. Sometimes all it needs is as little as a day. Even after receiving treatment, about 10 to 15 percent of people die due to this overwhelming condition. And more than half of the survivors suffer from permanent disabilities like hearing loss, loss of kidney function, limb amputations, etc. What is worse is that meningococcal meningitis is a contagious disease. The bacteria causing this can spread when people come in contact with someone’s infected saliva through kissing or sharing fluids out of the same bottles, coughing or sharing cosmetics, etc.

In the beginning, the diagnosis of this disease is difficult. What is even more nerve-racking is that this disease is difficult to catch at the beginning due to its generic flu-like symptoms which include irritability, fever, loss of appetite, etc.

How Can Meningitis Be Cured/Prevented?

You can prevent this disease from ravaging your young one by simply getting them a vaccination. Yes!! A routine vaccine can prevent a disaster like meningitis quite easily. All you need to do is ensure that your child is immunized against this disease. Most meningococcal meningitis can be prevented through vaccination. Pharmaceutical giants like Sanofi Pasteur are committed to providing quality prevention through vaccines for types of meningococcal meningitis. Their vaccine (MCV- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine) provides comprehensive protection against bacterial meningitis.

This vaccine should be administered to babies from the age of 9 months onwards. MCV is still given the status of an optional vaccine by Indian Government due to the lower incidence of this type of meningitis, compared to its two other forms. And this is why many parents may miss out on getting their children vaccinated with this particular preventive vaccine.

As a parent, you want to choose what is best for your child. And in order to do that, it is almost imperative that you administer the entire spectrum of available vaccines to your child which can safeguard him/her against such lethal diseases.

Prevention Of Meningitis

MCV by Sanofi is a sure start in this direction. The MCV vaccine is quite important, in fact, irreplaceable, in terms of a precautionary measure for protection against meningitis. Rare as this disease may seem, it is definitely deadly and to see one’s child go through this would be heartbreaking.

For me, a mother of two kids, the MCV vaccine is a great solution. After all, prevention is always better than cure. So, consult your pediatrician about MCV vaccine today and provide your child with a strong safeguard against this disease.

References

• www.voicesofmeningitis.org
• https://the16vaccine.org/meningitis-fast-facts
• https://www.meningitisnow.org/meningitis-explained/signs-and-symptoms/meningitis-babies-and-children-under-five/
• https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/meningitis.html
• http://www.comomeningitis.org/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. This is a part of a public awareness initiative on meningitis supported by Sanofi Pasteur India. Sanofi Pasteur bears no responsibility for the content of the blog. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health-related information.

This article is meant to help create awareness and spread knowledge. Any decision regarding your health and child’s health should be done after consultation with your doctor. Read my full disclosure here. While all efforts are made to keep articles updated, the speed of research in these fields mean the information often may change when more research knowledge is available. Travelfoodnfitness or the authors should be in no way held responsible in that case.

Author: Sapna Bansal

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