• What is meningitis? What are the symptoms? What happens if not treatment ? What are the causes of meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. The meninges are the three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can occur when fluid surrounding the meninges becomes infected. Some viruses and bacteria cause it. It has symptoms such as fever, vomiting, malnutrition, headache, sensitivity to external stimuli, neck pain, body rash, fontanel swelling in babies.If not treated; Deafness, learning difficulties, epilepsy, limb loss such as limbs and most importantly, death despite effective treatment can result.

• How contagious is meningitis?

Viral meningitis is contagious. It’s spread through direct contact with body fluids, including mucus, feces, and saliva. Droplets of infected fluid can be spread and shared with sneezing and coughing. You do not have to come into direct contact with an infected person to pick up this infection.

It is especially contaminate to children under the age of 2, people with weak immune systems, people living in crowded environments such as nurseries, schools and barracks.

• How is meningitis prevented?

Compliance with personal hygiene rules and of course the most important and powerful protection method is meningitis vaccines.

• Is there a meningitis vaccine in the ministry of health vaccination calendar, is it free? If so, why should I get a special meningitis vaccine?

There are multiple bacteria that cause meningitis.Three of these are particularly important.

1. Haemophilus influenzae medicine b (Hib) since 2006 2. Pneumococcus (also known as the pneumonia vaccine, a bacterium that causes frequent meningitis) has been provided free of charge by the government, together with other vaccines, since 2008. 3. and most common meningococcal bacteria are not vaccinated by the Ministry of Health at the moment, so two of the 3 bacteria are vaccinated, not against meningococcal bacteria, so we call it special vaccination.So, the first two vaccines we talked about are not protective against meningococcal bacteria.

• What is the difference of meningococcal bacteria from others?

This bacteria makes the majority of meningitis. In addition, compared to other meningitis, it progresses very quickly, within hours, and causes shock and multi-organ failure, which we call meningococcemia.

• Why Is It Called Spotted Meningitis?

The biggest difference from other meningitis is it is called mottled meningitis because it causes bleeding under the skin and causes red and purple rashes and rapidly spreads to arms and legs and turns into gangrene.

• What is the incidence of meningitis in Turkey ?

It is seen in 3-4 people per 100000,an average of 1500 cases each year, It causes around 350 deaths.

• Are there types of meningococcal meningitis?, The most common types of which are seen in Turkey?

There are 13 types of disease, most common in Turkey, C, W135, Y, and B types is observed, Between 2009 and 2016, the W135 appears to be the most frequent, while the B-type ranks first after 2017.

• Are there types of meningococcal vaccines? Which ones should I do? What if I only had one type of vaccine?

Vaccines consist of two main groups, there are 3 licensed vaccines containing ACW135Y types in our country, these are; NIMENRIX, MENVEO and MENACTRA . In other words, we can say that these vaccines are equivalent to each other, there are some technical differences, these vaccines contain 4 types of bacteria, your doctor will inform you.There is also a vaccine called BEXERO, which includes only type B, and its equivalent is currently not available in our country. As pediatricians, we recommend that you vaccinate your baby to include these 5 bacteria that we have mentioned, so that we can protect against all types of the disease.

• Are there any side effects of vaccines? Do vaccines cause autism?

They are not much different from other vaccines we know, they have common side effects such as fever, local rash at the injection site. Vaccine do not causes autism, it has no scientific basis.

• From which month are vaccinations done? I wonder if I was late to get the vaccine? Are other vaccines or two meningitis vaccines given at the same time? Will it do any problem?

Vaccines can be made from the 2nd month, can be applied in any age group, if we have not had the disease, it is not late for anything, sooner the better. Other health center vaccinations and two different groups of meningitis vaccines can be administered at the same time. Your doctor will inform you about the vaccine brand and the number of doses to be made, as the number of doses of the vaccine varies with age.