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Understanding Meningitis - Prevention

Meningitis is usually caused by many different viruses and bacteria. So the best methods of avoiding it vary, depending on your age, your health, and your environment.

But by getting vaccinated and taking sensible precautions, you can greatly reduce your risk. Here's what you need to know about meningitis prevention.

Meningitis Prevention: Who Is Most at Risk?

Anyone can develop just about any kind of meningitis. But research has shown that some age groups have higher rates of meningitis than others. They are:

Children under age 5
Teenagers and young adults aged 16-25
Adults over age 55

Studies have shown that meningitis is more of a danger for people with certain medical conditions, such as a damaged spleen, chronic disease, or immune system disorders.

There's also a connection between cochlear implants for hearing loss and bacterial meningitis. However, it's important to keep these risks in perspective. Out of 60,000 people worldwide with these implants, only 90 cases have been reported.

Because certain germs that cause meningitis can be contagious, outbreaks are most likely where people are living in close quarters. So college students in dorms or army recruits in barracks are at higher risk. So are people traveling to areas where meningitis is more common, such as parts of Africa.

However, keep this in mind. Even if your personal odds of getting meningitis are higher than average, it's still a rare disease.

Meningitis Prevention: Vaccinations

Vaccines can prevent many of the diseases that could lead to meningitis. Most of these shots are routinely given to young children. The immunizations to prevent bacterial and viral meningitis include:

Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, which prevents infections that cause pneumonia, meningitis, and other problems. It's given to children between 2 months and 15 months old, and then to children over 5 years old or adults with certain medical conditions. While Hib used to be the most likely cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5 years old, the vaccine has made it a much rarer cause.
Meningococcal vaccine protects against potentially life-threatening meningococcal disease. It's routinely recommended for children at ages 11 or 12. It's also recommended for college freshmen living in dorms, military recruits, people with certain immune disorders and medical conditions, and travelers to countries with known meningococcal outbreaks, such as sub-Saharan Africa.
Pneumococcal vaccines also protect against bacterial meningitis. There are two types. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is routinely given to children under 2. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended for all adults over 65. Some younger adults and children with weakened immune systems and certain chronic diseases may also need it.
MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine, which is routinely given to children, protects against meningitis that can develop from measles and mumps.
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and shingles vaccine target the varicella virus, which can potentially lead to viral meningitis.

Meningitis Prevention: Other Precautions

In addition to vaccinations, you should follow some commonsense precautions to help prevent meningitis.

Start with the obvious: Be careful around people who have meningitis. It's possible to catch some types of meningitis through contact with bodily fluids. So it might be spread by kissing, sneezing, coughing, or sharing utensils or toothbrushes. If someone in your family has it, try to limit his or her contact with other family members.
Wash your hands after having contact with someone who has meningitis.
If you come into close contact with someone with meningitis, get in touch with your doctor. Depending on the extent of your exposure and the type of meningitis, he or she may want you to take an antibiotic as a precaution.

WebMD Medical Reference

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