Learning to combat

Even with prompt,appropriate treatment,the consequences of bacterial meningitis can be extremely severe. Those who survive often suffer from mental retardation,epilepsy and deafness. Meningitis can strike with little or no warning,but knowing the symptoms and acting fast can save lives. Symptoms of bacterial meningitis include sudden onset of fever,headache,stiff neck,dislike of bright light,nausea,vomiting and drowsiness. “Children are at the greatest risk,” says Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar,former president of the city unit of Indian Medical Association

In the early stages of meningitis,these symptoms can be mistaken for less severe diseases,thereby delaying diagnosis and treatment. The consequences of delayed treatment can be profound,increasing the risk of complications. Vaccines are available in India to protect those at risk against certain types of bacterial meningitis like ‘Haemophilus influenza type b’ (Hib). However,since the introduction of Hib vaccine,meningitis due to these bacteria is now uncommon in developed countries.

A strain (serotype) of the pneumococcal bacteria called 19 A has become a leading cause of disease in Europe and the US,and is now present in Asia. Strain ’19 A’ is increasingly becoming resistant to commonly used antibiotics. A recent study has shown high incidence of ’19 A’ in India too.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine launched last year in India can protect children from 13 strains of the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumococcal meningitis,including ’19 A’. However,there is still no vaccine to protect against all bacteria that cause meningitis,especially Meningitis B. Ongoing research is evaluating new approaches to vaccine development with the hope of providing protection against meningitis B infection.