Q: We live in Edmonton where there was an outbreak of meningitis recently. What signs of the disease should we be looking for in our children? Should parents have their children vaccinated against this disease? Prevnar is an expensive vaccine and may require follow-up shots. Is the vaccine covered by provincial health plans?
A: Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain, called the meninges. Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain itself. Both diseases can be serious, sometimes leading to permanent brain damage or death.
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The illness can progress rapidly. When I was at university, a fellow student went on a trip across Europe on the train. She got on the train quite healthy at one end and was dead from meningitis before the train reached its destination. There are about 300 cases a year in Canada.
Several different bacteria can cause meningitis. Meningococcal bacteria, Strep pneumoniae or Haemophilus influenzae are the most common. The bacteria are carried at the back of the throat, and coughing or sneezing can transmit them. Direct contact such as kissing, holding hands or sharing food is usually required.
Symptoms include:
- Sudden onset of fever.
- Headache.
- Neck pain and stiffness.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Irritability.
- Confusion or hallucinations followed by decreased level of consciousness in late stages.
- Reddish-purple rash.
A child who displays several of these symptoms should be taken to the hospital immediately. Do not waste time sitting in the doctor’s office. If you know your child has been exposed to the disease, closely observe him or her for signs of illness. Make sure they have been vaccinated recently.
They should also receive preventative antibiotics. Most cases of meningitis respond well to antibiotics if the disease is caught early enough.
People of any age can contract meningitis, but the young people most at risk are first year college or university students. They are at even greater risk if they live in dormitories.
Because there were more cases than usual in Alberta last year, Edmonton authorized free vaccinations for all school-age children, as well as university students. As you pointed out, the immunity does not last long. In one study, only 67 percent of children over the age of four were still protected after three years.
Manitoba usually has fewer than 10 cases a year of meningococcal infections. Last spring when there was an outbreak among Winnipeg teenagers, the health department had a vaccine program for all students attending Grades 7 to 12 in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.
The free shots were not offered outside the city because the risk was considered low. The government said individuals who were not covered by the targeted immunization and wanted to be vaccinated should talk to their doctor.
Vaccine can be purchased from a pharmacy for approximately $50.
Saskatchewan’s public health department said there would be free meningitis vaccinations for children in the event of an outbreak.
It is helpful to keep in mind that by far the greater risk to the health of students are motor vehicle accidents, suicide, alcohol-related problems and
HIV-AIDS.
