Recently, the topic of meningitis has become a hot topic on search engines, sparking heated discussions among netizens. What is meningitis? Which groups are prone to outbreaks? How to prevent it in daily life? Experts from the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat sen University will take you to learn more. What is meningococcal meningitis, also known as epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, is an acute purulent meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis and transmitted through the respiratory tract. It is characterized by frequent occurrence in winter and spring, acute onset, rapid progression, strong infectivity, high hidden infection rate, and high mortality rate. The incubation period of meningitis is several hours to 10 days, usually 2-3 days. The main symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, and/or signs of meningeal irritation. In infants and young children, the anterior fontanelle (located between the parietal and frontal bones) is raised; Severe patients may have varying degrees of consciousness disorders and/or septic shock; Skin and mucous membranes show petechiae (spots), which can quickly expand and fuse into patches. The disease is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact, such as coughing, sneezing, etc. However, due to the weak external survival ability of the pathogen, there are few opportunities for indirect transmission. It is worth noting that close contact between infants and young children under 2 years old and their families, such as sleeping, hugging, breastfeeding, etc., may also lead to the spread of meningitis. The hidden infection rate of meningitis is relatively high, and only about 1% of the population shows typical clinical symptoms after infection. Early symptoms of meningitis, such as colds, mainly occur in children and adolescents under the age of 15, accounting for more than 60% of the total number of cases The incidence rate of 5-year-old children is the highest, and the younger the age, the higher the incidence rate. Professor Xia Jinyu, Director of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Center at the Fifth Hospital of CUHK, reminds that the early symptoms of this disease are similar to the common cold, and early identification is not easy. If not treated in time, serious outbreaks of infection and shock may occur within 24 hours, endangering life. It can be distinguished from the following points: 1. Different pharyngeal signs. Cerebrosis is mild congestion, while a cold can be severe congestion or inflammatory secretions. 2、 There is a clear relationship between seasons and regions and meningitis, while there is no significant relationship with colds and influenza. 3、 The main manifestations of meningitis are drowsiness and irritability. 4、 Encephalitis causes more severe overall discomfort, while influenza is milder. 5、 There are bleeding points in cerebral hemorrhage, and other respiratory infections are generally not present. 6、 Meningeal irritation symptoms such as neck stiffness, fear of light, mania, and convulsions may occur in patients with meningitis, while patients with colds and influenza usually do not. The most effective prevention method - vaccination. Common pathogenic bacterial groups for meningococcus include A, B, C, Y, X, and W135 groups, and different meningococcus vaccines contain different serum groups. In the vaccination program of China's immunization program (free), a total of 4 doses of meningococcal meningitis vaccine are required: 1. Two doses of meningococcal meningitis group A polysaccharide vaccine are administered, one dose at 6 months and one dose at 9 months of age respectively; 2、 The meningococcal A+C group polysaccharide vaccine is administered twice, with one dose administered at the age of 3 and one dose administered at the age of 6. In addition, there are also non immunization plans (self funded) vaccines available for parents to choose from in mainland China's meningococcal meningitis vaccines: ① A+C group conjugate vaccine (self funded) ② ACYW135 tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine (self funded) ③ ACYW135 tetravalent meningococcal meningitis conjugate vaccine (self funded) Children's health department director Shao Jingjing reminds parents to vaccinate their children in a timely manner according to the vaccination procedure. If they have not received the meningococcal meningitis vaccine or have not completed the prescribed dosage, they can go to a regular hospital for vaccination outpatient services, and medical staff will provide re vaccination according to the principle of re vaccination. For those who have had close contact with patients with meningitis, it is best to follow medical advice for preventive medication. Getting vaccinated requires doing these things well: 1. Try not to take children to crowded environments, especially in poorly ventilated public places. 2、 Wash hands frequently and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. 3、 Eat a balanced diet, avoid smoking, exercise moderately, and get enough sleep to enhance immunity. 4、 Maintain indoor air circulation and regularly open windows for ventilation in winter. (Lai Xin She)