According to these entities, the most serious meningitis is caused by bacteria; among them, meningococcus. This can have different ‘surnames’ (or serogroups), with B being the most common in Spain. According to WHO figures, around half a million cases with 50,000 deaths occur each year.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. The disease can be classified as bacterial, viral and fungal, although in developing countries bacterial meningitis compromises the lives of the most vulnerable people, such as newborns, the elderly and those with disorders of their immune system.

Meningococcal disease develops at any time of the year, but Its peak is in the winter and spring.

How is it transmitted?

Meningococcus infection occurs through the respiratory route, through droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing. The greater and closer the contact with an infected person, the easier it is to spread., that is why the most favorable environments for its transmission are school and family environments. However, its contagion capacity is not as high as that of a cold or flu.

The virus enters the body through the eyes, nose or mouth, so contagion is very common in places where children share a lot of time, such as schools. Bacteria are responsible for most cases of meningitis. Pneumococcus predominates in adults, while meningococcus predominates in children and young adults.

The spread of the disease is facilitated by close and prolonged contact (kissing, sneezing, coughing, collective dormitories, shared dishes and cutlery, etc.) with an infected person. The average incubation period is 4 days, but can range from 2 to 10 days..

These are the symptoms:

As explained by the WHO, there are people who, for a time, can be pharyngeal carriers of this bacteria without it causing any problems. However, in some individuals and under certain circumstances the germ bypasses this barrier and penetrates the body, producing the disease.

When it causes meningitis, The onset of symptoms is usually abrupt with fever, headache, and neck stiffness., which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abnormal intolerance to light (photophobia) and confusion. In some cases it is associated with symptoms similar to those of a flu or spots appear on the body: these are small violet-red specks, known as petechiae, anywhere on the body, usually very numerous and of very rapid progression and which They tend to join together within minutes, giving rise to bruises. The recommendation of the experts is that in the presence of these symptoms, go urgently to a health center.

In 2006, experts from the medical journal ‘The Lancet’ pointed to the pain in the legs, cold hands and feet and paleness as warning indicators which according to their research appear even before those already known, such as high fever, vomiting, sensitivity to light, headache and stiff neck.

In the case of babies and children Young children should also consult specialists in case of refusal to feed, a stiff neck or, on the contrary, a flaccid body or difficulty waking up. Complaining behavior, drowsiness or lethargy, irritability, and cold extremities (hands and feet) are also warning symptoms.

Who is affected?

Meningococcal disease mainly affects children under one year of age. The second peak of the incidence of the disease is between 1 and 9 years and the third in adolescence, from 15 to 19 years of age. In children under 3 years of age, the disease usually has a worse prognosis. in terms of sequelae and mortality.

In 99% of cases, the disease occurs in healthy people, that is, they do not have other previous diseases. The number of new cases of meningococcal disease in Spain remains stable annually, with figures of 0.7 cases per 100,000 people, which, although low, are one of the highest in Europe.

How can it be prevented?

Prevention is the best strategy for treating meningitis. Currently there are several vaccines to combat the different serogroups of meningococcus.

How is it diagnosed?

The initial diagnosis of meningococcal meningitis can be established by physical examination, followed by a lumbar puncture showing purulent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The bacteria can sometimes be seen on microscopic examination of the CSF. The diagnosis is supported or confirmed by positive blood or CSF culture, agglutination tests, or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of serogroups and antibiotics are important to define control measures.

The treatment

Meningococcal disease can be fatal and should always be considered a medical emergency. The patient must be admitted to a hospital or health center, although it is not necessary to isolate him or her. Appropriate antibiotic treatment should begin as soon as possible, preferably after lumbar puncture., as long as this can be practiced immediately. Initiating treatment before puncture may make it difficult for the bacteria to grow in the CSF culture and confirm the diagnosis.

Different antibiotics can be used, such as penicillin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and ceftriaxone.