What is meningitis and what causes it?
Meningitis is found worldwide. The most risky areas are sub-Saharan Africa, known as the meningitis belt, where epidemics are common. The belt runs from Senegal in West Africa to Ethiopia in the east. If you’re going there, get vaccinated first.
Meningitis C is included in Britain’s national childhood immunisation schedule. Youngsters often have a meningitis vaccination before they go to college, where crowded and often unhygienic student lifestyles take their toll and the disease is spread via respiratory and throat infections. And young adults entering the forces often have the vaccination for the same reason.
Travellers visiting Saudi Arabia and areas of Sub Saharan Africa, India and Asia should consider having this vaccination regardless of whether they have had a childhood Meningitis C jab.
Meningitis is a serious bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the brain and spine. It’s fatal in 5-12% of cases but without treatment, fatality rates can be as high as 50%. The incubation period is 3-4 days.
People can get meningitis by breathing the air or saliva from an infected person when they sneeze, cough or kiss. The disease spreads quickly in crowds and mass gatherings. Travellers at higher risk include those taking long or short term trips to risky areas, for example health workers, volunteers, those visiting family in or living in places where the disease is a problem.
Meningitis Signs and Symptoms
Meningitis can cause a sudden fever with an acute headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, sensitivity to light, pale and blotchy skin, severe muscle pain, confusion and irritability, even convulsions and seizures leading to a coma. Common meningitis symptoms include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Headache
- Fever
- Tiredness and irritability
- Generally feeling unwell
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Sore throat
If you have a mild case of viral meningitis, you might only get a few flu-like symptoms before making a full recovery. If you catch a more serious case you will experience nastier symptoms, namely:
- An even worse headache
- A rash of little red or purple spots
- Big, dark bruises that don’t whiten or disappear when you press them
- Light sensitivity
- A stiff neck
- Confusion and drowsiness
- Seizures
How to minimise the risk of catching meningitis?
Meningitis is usually spread via contagious infections. Common bacteria or viruses that cause the disease are spread via coughing, sneezing, kissing, sharing cutlery, toothbrushes and even cigarettes. If you live with someone who has the disease, you’re at risk of catching it yourself.
Vaccination Information:
The course consists of one dose Once you completed the vaccination course, no boosters are currently recommended. However, you can get a booster five years after your last jab if you need it for a meningitis ACWY certificate.
