Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (Menactra®, MenHibrix® and Menveo®)

Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune®)

Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)

Trade name Type of Vaccine Meningococcal Serogroups Covered Bexsero® Recombinant B Menactra® Conjugate A, C, W, Y MenHibrix® Conjugate C, Y (and Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib]) Menomune® Polysaccharide A, C, W, Y Menveo® Conjugate A, C, W, Y Trumenba® Recombinant B

The following vaccines help prevent meningococcal disease: meningococcal conjugate, meningococcal polysaccharide, and serogroup B meningococcal vaccines.

As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or discomfort after meningococcal vaccines.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

Vaccine Recommendations

They can become inflamed when an infection occurs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding these membranes. Other things such as medications, tumours, and chemical exposure can also cause meningitis.

majority of people with meningitis that is not caused by bacteria (e.g., meningitis caused by a virus) recover quickly and completely

bacterial meningitis is fatal for 1 in 10 people

even with treatment

1 in 5 people will be left with problems such as deafness or brain injury

Quick diagnosis and treatment are vital

The most common causes of meningitis are bacteria or viruses, although there are many other causes.

fungi

over half the population carries one or another of these bacteria in the back of the nose and throat

exotic

such as parasites

tropical countries.

Meningitis commonly occurs when bacteria or viruses make their way into the fluid surrounding the brain.

Sometimes they enter directly as a result of an operation such as brain surgery. Sometimes they erode through the small bones in our skull, for instance in extreme cases of severe sinusitis. Sometimes they are carried there by our blood from an infection occurring elsewhere in our body such as pneumonia (a lung infection). But in most cases, we don't really understand how and why this happens.

Cryptococcus, a fungus, can also cause meningitis. It usually occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with AIDS

Tuberculosis (TB) can cause meningitis

Certain medications and chemical irritants can cause in inflammation of the brain similar to meningitis. There have also been rare reports of vaccines causing meningitis. Viral or chemically-induced meningitis often goes away on its own.

Bacterial meningitis, on the other hand, is a very serious illness.

people with poor immune systems

enter the cerebrospinal fluid and begin multiplying, the bacteria cause inflammation and other symptoms of meningitis.

can't live outside the human body for very long.

not eating

There are many species of bacteria that can cause meningitis.

Children under the age of 2 are most susceptible to meningitis. Other things that increase the risk are:

brain or spinal cord surgery

commonly transmitted by coughing, sneezing, and kissing

impaired or abnormal immune system

kidney failure

the use of corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone)

cancer, especially breast, lung, skin, leukemia, and lymphoma. When cancer is the cause of the meningitis it is called carcinomatous meningitis or leptomeningeal metastatis.

People with bacterial meningitis quickly become very sick, usually within hours, and shouldn't wait to get medical treatment.

Symptoms of meningitis can include:

high fever over 39°C (102°F)

stiff and sore neck, especially when it's moved, turned, or bent (the discomfort is caused by inflammation of the meninges) – this may not occur in people whose immune systems are not functioning properly, such as:

people taking corticosteroids

people with AIDS

people taking cancer or transplant medications

seniors

children less than 24 months of age and especially those less than 6 months of age.

severe headache due to extra pressure in the head – look for signs of fussiness and irritability in children too young to complain of a headache

If blood vessels in the brain become inflamed, the brain won't get enough oxygen. This can make a person drowsy and less responsive, and, in extreme situations, they can fall into a coma. Lack of oxygen to the brain can also cause seizures.

Symptoms for very young children can include:

fever, with cold hands and feet

vomiting

head injury

difficulty waking up

high-pitched moaning or crying

arching their backs and pulling at their necks

not settling down or taking comfort when held

having a vacant expression

showing a pale, mottled complexion

rash (red or purple pinpricks)

Long-term complications can occur and last long after the infection has been treated. These include deafness, mental impairment, paralysis, and sometimes seizures that require lifelong treatment.