Prevention of Meningitis

Contents

Prevention of Meningitis:

Methods of prevention of Meningitis mentioned in various sources includes those listed below. This prevention information is gathered from various sources, and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Meningitis.

Vaccinations - vaccines against the various bacteria causing meningitis.
- HIB conjugate vaccine - a widely used vaccine that has greatly reduced Hib incidence.
- Meningococcal vaccine
- Polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine - protects against 4 meningococcal strains: A, C, Y, and W135.
- Conjugate meningococcal C vaccine - a newer meningococcal vaccine that works for infants but only against subtype C.
- Polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine - older vaccine; not for under 2 years.
- Conjugate pneumococcal vaccine - newer vaccine that works for infants.
- MMR vaccine - avoids rare viral meningitis from measles or mumps.
- Varicella vaccine - avoids rare viral meningitis from chickenpox
Avoid sharing saliva - avoids contagion of meningococcal disease
- Avoid sharing food or drink
- Avoid sharing cigarrettes
- Avoid sharing mouthguards
- Avoid sharing cosmetics
Avoid droplet or fluid contagion - mainly for bacterial meningitis.
- Hand washing
- Avoid touching face
- Avoid contact with known cases
Preventive antibiotics - usually only for known contacts of a confirmed case of bacterial meningitis.

Medications used to prevent Meningitis:

Some of the different medications in the possible prevention of Meningitis include:

Rifampin
Rifadin
Rifadin IV
Rifamate
Rifater
Rimactane
Rimactane/INH Dual Pack
Rofact

Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans.

Medical news about treatments for Meningitis

These medical news articles may be relevant to Meningitis treatment:

Clinical Trials for Meningitis

Some of the clinical trials for Meningitis include:

Lot-to-Lot Consistency of Tritanrix-HepB/Hib-MenAC & Its Non-Inferiority vs Tritanrix-HepB/Hiberix in Infants - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Immunogenicity and Safety of Men ACWY in Infants (6 & 12 Months) - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Immunogenicity and Safety of the Concomitant Administration of a Tdap Vaccine and Meningococcal ACWY Conjugate Vaccine in Healthy Subjects Aged 11-25 Years - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
Vancomycin Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid During Pneumococcal Meningitis - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Assess Mycograb for Cryptococcal Meningitis - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Amphotericin B, 5FC, Mycograb
more clinical trials...»

Latest Treatments for Meningitis

Some of the more recent treatments for Meningitis include:

Treatments for Meningitis

Treatments to consider for Meningitis may include:

Emergency hospitalization - may be required; some types are potentially deadly.
Intravenous antibiotics - for bacterial meningitis, or if it is possible.
Intravenous sulphonamides
Antiviral drugs - for viral meningitis
- Intravenous acyclovir
Antifungal drugs - for fungal meningitis
more treatments...»

Prevention of Meningitis:

Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD (Excerpt)

Are there vaccines against meningitis?

Yes, there are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective.

There is also a vaccine that protects against four strains of N. meningitidis, but it is not routinely used in the United States and is not effective in children under 18 months of age. The vaccine against N. meningitidis is sometimes used to control outbreaks of some types of meningococcal meningitis in the United States. Meningitis cases should be reported to state or local health departments to assure follow-up of close contacts and recognize outbreaks. Although large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis do not occur in the United States, some countries experience large, periodic epidemics. Overseas travelers should check to see if meningococcal vaccine is recommended for their destination. Travelers should receive the vaccine at least 1 week before departure, if possible. Information on areas for which meningococcal vaccine is recommended can be obtained by calling the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at (404)-332-4565.

A vaccine to prevent meningitis due to S. pneumoniae (also called pneumococcal meningitis) can also prevent other forms of infection due to S. pneumoniae. The pneumococcal vaccine is not effective in children under 2 years of age but is recommended for all persons over 65 years of age and younger persons with certain chronic medical problems. (Source: excerpt from Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD)

Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD (Excerpt)

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has modified its guidelines for use of the polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis, particularly for college freshmen who live in dormitories, a group found to be at a modestly increased risk of meningococcal disease relative to other persons their age. (Source: excerpt from Meningococcal Disease (General): DBMD)

Prevention Claims: Meningitis

Information on prevention of Meningitis comes from many sources. There are some sources that claim preventive benefits for many different diseases for various products. We may present such information in the hope that it may be useful, however, in some cases claims of Meningitis prevention may be dubious, invalid, or not recognized in mainstream medicine. Please discuss any treatment, discontinuation of treatment, or change of treatment plans with your doctor or professional medical specialist.

» Next page: Cure Research for Meningitis