Health decoding｜Increasing cases of meningococcal serotype B. Doctors urge vaccination before going to study abroad to increase protection
Neisseria meningitidis can cause brain damage, and severe cases are more likely to die within 24 hours. However, Hong Kongers are not sufficiently aware of this disease. Some family medicine specialists have pointed out that the continent’s childhood vaccine program has already eliminated meningitis. The diplococcal vaccine is included as one of the required vaccines. Schools in foreign locations, such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, will require students to receive the meningococcal vaccine before entering school and will encourage students to travel or allow their children to receive study abroad I parents pay attention.
Meningitis refers to an inflammatory reaction caused by a microbial infection or other causes in the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and Neisseria meningitidis is one of the common bacterial meningitis. Zhu Weixing, a family medicine specialist, said that 10 to 35 percent of adults are long-term carriers of Neisseria meningitidis and can spread it through droplets produced by coughing or sneezing or through direct contact with patients’ respiratory secretions and their organs. immunity is relatively low. Children, adolescents, older adults 65 years of age and older, and people with weakened immune systems congenitally or due to disease are more susceptible to infections.
It can cause brain damage and mental decline
“The initial symptoms of meningococcal infection are similar to those of a cold, such as high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, vomiting, photophobia, bruising on the skin, rashes, etc. The condition may worsen within a few hours , and in severe cases Death can occur within 24 hours, and patients can also develop serious symptoms, such as brain damage, mental retardation, mental retardation, deafness, and electrolyte imbalance, which should not be ignored.
Dr. Zhu Weixing said that Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcal meningitis (meningococcal meningitis for short) in the mainland, has long been included in the childhood vaccination program as one of the required preventive vaccines. However, studies in recent years have shown that it is not included in the list. The serotypes of Neisseria meningitidis included in the original vaccine have started to increase. In both mainland China and Hong Kong, serotype B has accounted for the majority of cases in recent years.
According to the data, the most common meningococcal infection cases on the continent belong to serotype B, which increased dramatically from around 22% of cases before 2015 to 52% after 2015. Furthermore, after the Covid-19 epidemic , the global epidemiology of many bacteria and viruses has changed: meningococci are rampant in several regions, and type B is particularly common, including the United Kingdom and Australia.
Serotype B can cause serious complications
“The biological structure of serotype B meningococci is quite special, so it was not possible to combine them with other serotypes of meningococci in the same vaccine for preventive purposes. However, the most worrying thing is that serotype B meningococci are The severity of cocci is higher. Once infected, there is a greater chance of serious complications. Although it is not life-threatening, there is still a possibility of disability, because the bacteria will extend to the periphery along with the meningeal nerves and the inflammation will spread.occur throughout the area, causing The meninges to become thick and swollen and may produce a lot of pus.Even with antibiotic treatment, if the meninges are damaged, such as hardening or stenosis, they will compress the nerves and also cause brain edema It can also cause other complications, such as inflammation of the heart muscle.”
Dr. Zhu Weixing emphasizes that prevention is better than cure: “No matter how many cases of meningococcal infection there are and how high the risk of infection is, once complications occur after infection, the impact on the affected person will be of 100%, especially if this disease has, can cause many consequences, especially for children, which can significantly reduce their intelligence, mobility and even the ability to take care of themselves.” Parents are advised to vaccinate their children with the preventive meningococcal vaccine targeting the correct serotype as soon as possible. possible to improve protection.
Zhu Weixing, a family medicine specialist, said that once infected with meningococci, patients can have many consequences and early prevention is recommended.
2024-01-15 23:30:00
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