Meningitis in kindergarten: what is it, how do they become infected, how to prevent this disease?

Meningitis is called a deadly disease, in which the membranes of the brain and spinal cord are inflamed. The disease is caused by one or several microbes, it can be both a virus, and a bacterium, a fungus.

Isolate primary meningitis, when the disease is an independent form and can be caused by a virus or a bacterium (this is mainly meningococcus or hemophilic rod). They are sick more often by children, adolescents, elderly people. Also there is a secondary meningitis, which does not have age differences. It occurs as a complication of viral diseases (measles, chicken pox, mumps, rubella) or purulent (otitis, sinusitis, sepsis). Meningitis in kindergarten is the primary process, and most often it is caused by nothing else than meningococcus. Meningococcal meningitis is a form of infection.

What is a meningococcal infection?

The disease is caused by a microbe that gets from one person to another by airborne droplets. This bacterium is very infectious, but it quickly dies in cool air, so that outbreaks are possible with close contact or in people who are in a warm indoor environment.

80% of cases of primary meningitis is associated with meningococcus, and severe forms occur almost always in children from six months of life (children up to 6-10 months are protected from the bacterium by maternal antibodies) or adolescents because they have not yet developed immunity to it . Therefore meningococcal meningitis still carries the name "children's meningitis" (before it because of infectiousness they called epidemic cerebrospinal).

Each year, there are individual cases of meningococcal infection, then the meningococcal group B is registered. But every three to four years there is a meningitis outbreak caused by meningococcus of group A. Most often, epidemics are observed in the winter-spring period, which is associated with both a general decrease in immunity in this group Period, and with the fact that at this time of year the children almost do not walk and are in the room.

There are several forms of meningococcal infection. The most dangerous of them in terms of infectiousness:

- carriage, when a person does not feel sick, while actively for 2-4 weeks, allocates bacteria by airborne droplets;

- meningococcal nasopharyngitis, which is easily tolerated, is often not diagnosed, as it is similar to the usual ARVI.

Other forms of infection are life threatening. This is meningitis (or meningoencephalitis) and meningococcal sepsis (meningococcemia). Meningitis in a kindergarten caused by a given bacterium does not necessarily occur with a rash, so do not wait for it to appear. As well as the occurrence of an unusual rash, even without any other symptoms, is the reason for calling the "First Aid" (not the local pediatrician, namely the "First Aid", as the bill sometimes goes for minutes).

How is meningococcal meningitis manifested?

The disease almost always begins acutely, but it can also develop as a complication of meningococcal nasopharyngitis, then it will be preceded by a slight increase in temperature, a runny nose, pain and discomfort in the throat. The first symptoms are a severe headache, which occurs simultaneously with a rise in temperature to high figures. Vomiting also occurs (it is often multiple, after it does not get any easier), photophobia. Increases the sensitivity of the skin to ordinary touches (they begin to cause discomfort). Meningitis can develop rapidly when from the onset of a severe headache to a disturbance of consciousness passes only 2-3 hours, but it can also proceed slowly.

Violation of consciousness usually looks like a retardation, which turns into a doubt, the child becomes difficult to wake up. Sometimes this condition is preceded by convulsions (short and longer with a violation of consciousness), sometimes - the excitement and inadequacy of the child.

A rash is not an obligatory sign. When meningococcal infection, rash elements almost always have these characteristics:

- dark color;

- dense to the touch, it seems that they protrude above the surface of the skin;

- most often begin to appear on the hands, feet, legs, forearms, buttocks, on the trunk and head - then;

- shape - close to the shape of the star;

- there may be areas of necrosis;

- the rash does not turn pale when pressing on it with glass or stretching the skin under it.

Even if there are no such symptoms, just an incomprehensible rash occurred against the background of high fever, and it does not look like an allergic, this is an excuse for calling an ambulance.

How not to "catch" the meningitis in the kindergarten?

100% of this disease can not be saved. But if the child is tempered, do not forget about the preventive intake of vitamins in the cold season, immediately contact LOR, pediatrician or infectious diseases in the occurrence of cough, snot and other signs of acute respiratory infections, it is possible to prevent meningococcosis from entering the nasopharynx somewhere further. If a kindergarten was found to have a meningococcal infection, you should consult an infectious disease specialist about the prophylactic intake of antibiotics (maybe it makes sense to pass the sowing from the nasopharynx). All adults in the occurrence of signs of acute respiratory viral infection with a child to walk in a mask.

A great guarantee is given by vaccination against meningococcus, which can be given only to children over two years of age every three to four years (this depends on the vaccine). After vaccination, usually only a local reaction and an increase in temperature for 36 hours (this indicates the formation of immunity).

Vaccination is particularly indicated for children who have congenital problems with the central nervous system, since they have the most frequent meningitis in kindergarten.