Meningitis
Prevention
  • Haemophilus vaccine (HiB vaccine) in children will help prevent one type of meningitis.
  • The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is now a routine childhood immunization and is very effective at preventing pneumococcal meningitis.
  • Household contacts and people in close contact with individuals with meningococcal meningitis are advised to receive preventive antibiotics to avoid becoming infected themselves.

The meningococcal vaccination is recommended for:

  • Adolescents ages 11 - 12 and previously unvaccinated adolescents entering high school (about age 15).
  • All college freshmen who have not been vaccinated and are living in dorms.
  • Children age 2 and older who do not have their spleen or who have other problems with their immune system.
  • Those traveling to countries where diseases caused by meningococcus are very common (ask your doctor).

Some communities conduct vaccination campaigns following an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis.

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Review date: November 12, 2007
Reviewed by: Arnold L. Lentnek, M.D., Division of Infectious Disease, Kennestone Hospital, Marietta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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