Cases of meningitis are rising rapidly in Spain, despite many cases being vaccine preventable.

More than 2.5 million people suffer from it every year worldwide. meningitis is the main reason serious infection in children and adolescents in Europe and causes 300,000 deaths annually. This disease has the potential to cause serious consequences for those affected and continues to be a public health concern today. For this reason, World Meningitis Day is celebrated every 5th October to raise awareness about it.

Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the meningeswhich are membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. There are several agents that can cause it, but the main ones are bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. “This disease can have devastating consequences because if it develops severely, it can manifest itself before 10% mortality

and up to 30% of serious consequences, so it continues to be a major public health problem,” explains Dr. Marta Guillan Rodriguez, Secretary of the Critical and Intensive Neurology Research Group of the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN).

The most dangerous meningitis is of bacterial origin, since “they tend to cause septicemia “if they reach the bloodstream and affect the entire body.” According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis is a serious condition in which the body does not properly respond to an infection, causing it to organs do not function properly.

According to the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), every year several 1000 cases of meningitis in Spainof which 10% are very serious. Anyone can get meningitis, although high risk groups children under 5 years old, especially when children are not vaccinatedand young people from 15 to 24 years old. In fact, it is the leading cause of infection-related death among children and adolescents. Meningitis can have very serious consequences, including hearing loss, visual impairment and physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, limb amputations, and emotional, social and economic consequences for patients and their families.

Symptoms of this disease can appear suddenly, the most common are high temperatureHe severe headacheneck stiffness, nausea, photosensitivity and confusion. Because they can progress quickly, it is best to seek immediate medical attention. “And in children, another sign that may indicate this disease is the appearance of petechiae, that is, small red or purple spots that normally appear first on the torso and after a short time spread throughout the body. the rest of the body. Sometimes the onset of meningitis is similar to the onset of any other infection, and in the case of viral meningitis, symptoms are usually mild.”

After the easing of protective measures against coronavirus, the incidence of meningitis in Spain increased by 10% and returned to its previous level this year. increase 13%

. Hence the urgent recommendation from medical professionals vaccinate children to prevent certain types of disease. “Many deaths and disabilities caused by meningitis can be prevented by following the Unified Schedule of Vaccinations and Immunizations throughout life (Approved by the Public Health Commission of the Interterritorial Council of the SNS for 2024). Prevention is undoubtedly the task of everyone: professionals, patients, administrations and the media,” concludes Dr. Guyan.