Warning signs of meningitis in children

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi My Linh and Master, Doctor Nguyen Minh Tuan - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International Hospital and resident Doctor Duong Van Sy - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Meningitis in children is a dangerous disease. If not detected in time for treatment, meningitis in children can leave many sequelae, severe can cause death. Therefore, parents need to recognize the signs of meningitis in infants and children to ensure the health and life of the child.

Cases of meningitis in children are usually due to the following causes:

1.1 Meningitis caused by the bacterium Hib (Haemophilus Influenza type B) It occurs mainly in unvaccinated children. This is also the main cause of meningitis in children between 1 and 3 years old.
Childhood meningitis caused by Hib bacteria is mainly transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract.
When infected, the incubation period is usually less than 10 days. The disease has a high mortality rate and usually occurs within the first days.
1.2. Meningitis caused by pneumococcal (Streptococcus pneumoniae) This is also the main cause of pneumonia, sepsis, meningitis. According to statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumococcal meningitis is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age.
Currently, the treatment of pneumococcal meningitis in children is increasingly difficult because the use of antibiotics is no longer highly effective.
1.3. Meningitis (Neisseria meningitides) Meningitis can cause many different diseases (in combination or separately) in many organs in the human body such as nervous system, eyes, respiratory tract, heart membrane. , blood, joints, urinary tract and genitals. However, two common and more important diseases are meningitis and sepsis. In which, fulminant sepsis is the cause of rapid death, even though the disease has been actively treated.
Meningococcal meningitis in children is a respiratory infection. The incubation period ranges from 1 to 10 days. The disease usually starts suddenly, with symptoms similar to flu such as: headache, cough, sore throat, fatigue, ... Next, the patient will have a high fever, about 39 - 40 degrees Celsius, aches and pains. headache, nausea and vomiting, chills and chills, joint pain, muscle pain, especially pain in the back and legs. The patient has a drop in blood pressure, a rapid pulse, and may go into shock (rarely). One of the typical symptoms of meningococcal disease is a rash, mainly in the armpits, hips, around the elbows, knees, and ankles. The rash has a widespread, blister-like appearance, usually occurring within 1 to 2 days of fever.

To detect meningitis, as soon as a child has a fever, parents or caregivers need to pay attention to the warning signs of the disease.
Fever, anorexia, decreased suckling, digestive disorders causing diarrhea or vomiting, cough, runny nose... are the initial manifestations of meningitis in children. These signs are easy to confuse with diseases related to common respiratory infections, or viral fevers, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the child's body temperature. If the child has a high fever of over 38.5 degrees Celsius, parents should cool the child's body and give the child fever-reducing medicine according to the dosage and weight instructions.
Warning signs of meningitis in children that parents need to closely monitor their child's condition such as:
Convulsions: whole body or may be in hands, feet, eyes, mouth. In some cases, a child may have a convulsion simply due to a high fever, but it can also be due to an electrolyte disorder. However, in any case, it is necessary to monitor whether the child has meningitis. Consciousness disorders: at first, the child will be easily agitated, then the child may fall into a state of lethargy, lethargy, and coma. The child presents with headache, vomiting, facial paralysis, paralysis or reduced mobility in the arms, legs, or half of the body. Note, the early signs of meningitis in infants are often unclear and difficult to distinguish from other infections, the child may or may not have a fever and is accompanied by one of the above symptoms.

When seeing a child with the above warning signs, parents or caregivers should immediately take the child to the nearest medical facility for examination, accurate diagnostic tests and timely treatment.
Note, absolutely do not arbitrarily use the drug without the instructions and instructions of the doctor, or let the child drink the leaves. Delaying and delaying bringing the child to the hospital can endanger the child's life and increase the risk of many neurological sequelae due to the disease being treated late.
Childhood meningitis can be prevented by vaccination. In Vietnam, there are vaccines to prevent meningitis caused by Hib bacteria, pneumococcal and meningococcal groups. Parents need to pay attention to monitor and record their children's immunizations to ensure that their children are vaccinated on time and fully.
Vinmec International General Hospital is currently providing immunization services with a variety of vaccines for different audiences, from infants, young children, adults, and women before and during pregnancy . In which the vaccines against meningitis caused by Hib, the Hib vaccine component contained in the combination vaccines is:
6-in-1 vaccine Infanrix Hexa manufactured by GSK, Belgium and Licensed by Drug Administration - Ministry of Health on September 26, 2017: helps prevent 6 diseases: meningitis H.influenza type b (Hib bacteria), polio, diphtheria, pertussis , tetanus, hepatitis B; Hexaxim 6-in-1 vaccine manufactured by Sanofi, France and licensed by the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health on July 11, 2018: helps prevent 6 diseases: meningitis H.influenza type b (Hib bacteria), polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B; Pentaxim 5-in-1 vaccine manufactured by Sanofi, France and licensed by the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health on August 28, 2018: helps prevent 6 diseases: meningitis H.influenza type b (Hib bacteria), polio, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus; Pneumococcal meningitis vaccine - 0.5ml Synflorix vaccine is manufactured by GSK, Belgium and licensed by the Drug Administration - Ministry of Health on April 13, 2018; Meningococcal BC vaccine - Mengoc BC 0.5ml vaccine is manufactured by Finlay Institue, Cuba. Customers who choose to get vaccinated at Vinmec will be completely assured of the quality of the vaccine as well as the implementation process, because:
Children will be examined and screened by pediatricians - vaccines. Full range of health and condition issues, advice on preventive vaccines and injection regimens, how to monitor and care for children after vaccination before ordering vaccination according to the latest recommendations of Ministry of Health & World Health Organization to ensure the best effect and safest for children. A team of experienced and professional pediatric doctors and nurses, understand children's psychology and apply effective pain relief methods for children during the vaccination process. 100% of vaccinated children were monitored for 30 minutes after vaccination and reassessed before leaving. Underwent general supervision before, during and after vaccination at Vinmec Health System and always have an emergency team ready to coordinate with the vaccination department to handle cases of anaphylaxis, respiratory failure - circulatory arrest, ensuring Ensure timely and correct handling when incidents occur. The vaccination room is airy, with a play area, helping children feel comfortable as if they are walking and have a good mentality before and after vaccination. Vaccines are imported and stored in a modern cold storage system, with a cold chain that meets GSP standards, keeping vaccines in the best conditions to ensure quality. Parents will receive a reminder message before the vaccination date and their child's vaccination information will be synchronized with the national immunization information system. If you need consultation and examination at Vinmec Hospitals of the national health system, please book an appointment on the website for service.