Radio Shows | Meningitis Vaccine from the CDC | mp3 … wma … wav

Written by Brian Harcourt, Ph.D. and Fatima Coronado, M.D. who are scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working in the Meningitis Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. We welcome the participation and collaboration of the CDC in providing important information to listeners of MD News.

Dave — you know quite a bit about the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, but most of our listeners don't. It's one of the leading cause of meningitis, which is an inflammation of the meninges, the protective lining around the brain and spinal cord. Each year between two to three thousand people in the US get it and even with prompt treatment, up to fourteen percent of patients die.

Some of the survivors can end up with permanent disabilities that include loss of a limb, deafness, nervous system problems or even brain damage. The upside is there is a vaccine.

It's called MCV4 and can protect against four of the most common types of this bacterium in the US

The bacteria initially live and grow in the nasopharynx, which is the area in the back of the nose and throat. People can then transmit the bacteria in droplets by coughing or sneezing.

The first symptoms are similar to other more common illnesses such as the "flu", but they progress rapidly to high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and a worsening rash.

People who have symptoms that get worse quickly should seek medical attention immediately because in some patients, the disease can result in death within 48 hours.

Anyone can get meningococcal disease but it's most common among infants under 1, pre-teens and teens, and college students living in dormitories.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends use of MCV4 in persons aged 11-55, including routine vaccination of persons aged 11 to 18, ideally during the check-up at 11 to 12 years old. The vaccine is also recommended for college freshmen and for U.S. military recruits.

Side effects from MCV4 are usually mild and serious side effects are rare.

This one small effort could be life saving. More information can be found by searching the CDC website for bacterial meningitis.

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