Stiffness of the back wall of the neck, high fever, convulsions, headache, nausea, vomiting and drowsiness. These are just some of the main symptoms that characterize meningitis, a disease that causes inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and which, even today, represents an important public health problem, with an unfortunate or debilitating outcome. The meningococcal vaccine is not mandatory in Italy but “is part of the recommended vaccinations. For this reason, families do not consider it as important as compulsory ones. Result? Anti-meningococcal coverage in Italy is below the 95% threshold and in Lazio, despite our efforts, we are even at 73%”.
Thus at Adnkronos Salute Teresa Rongai, regional secretary of the Italian Federation of pediatricians in Lazio and Fimp secretary of Rome and its province on the eve of the World Day against meningitis – scheduled for 24 April – established to spread greater awareness. Not everyone knows, in fact, that “in newborns it is also possible to observe a swelling in the anterior fontanelle – explains Rongai – and that in very young children some of these symptoms may not always be evident; in these cases it is useful to pay close attention to signs such as poor appetite, irritability, drowsiness and fever which may indicate an initial phase of meningitis”.
Bacterial meningitis, which can be prevented by vaccination, “can be caused by meningococcus, pneumococcus, and influenza haemophilus – Rongai points out – while in adolescents cases of meningitis are mainly attributable to meningococcus, infants and young children are particularly at risk of primarily pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis. It is therefore necessary to defend them in the best way with all vaccinations for maximum possible protection.”
(continued)
As paediatricians “we applaud the new introduction, approved in recent days, also for the pediatric population of the 20-valent conjugate vaccine which to date represents the conjugate vaccine with the widest protection and which is indicated to prevent not only meningitis and invasive diseases such as sepsis, but also pneumonia and ear infections caused by as many as 20 strains.” Like Fimp Lazio, “always at the forefront for the maximum protection of children's health – underlines the pediatrician – we hope that this vaccination will be rapidly implemented to protect newborns and the pediatric population. Vaccination prevention is today even more important not only to always guarantee the maximum health guarantee for the population but also to avoid the problem of resistance to antibiotics which favors the emergence of ultra-resistant strains, with increased morbidity and mortality” .
For this reason “we believe it is primary to improve and strengthen prevention through vaccinations. In fact, it would not be ethically and morally acceptable – he claims – to witness serious and less serious infectious episodes, preventable by vaccine in a vulnerable population such as the pediatric one. As the Federation of Family Paediatricians we are ready to ensure all our support to the Region to guarantee maximum protection for children.
To promote protection through vaccination, “the role of the pediatrician is fundamental because in addition to being the family's reference and trusted doctor – adds Rongai – he can also carry out the vaccination in his own practice. Every visit and health assessment occasion can be directed to talk to parents about vaccination. And if they have doubts and certainties, we paediatricians, who are specialists in vaccinations, know how to resolve all doubts for families who unfortunately are currently in the so-called 'vaccination fatigue' phase. Our task is to make it clear that all vaccinations are important, including that for meningococcus B and C, recommended in childhood, pre-school and adolescence. The objective is to reach 95% of the target, only in this way can we also protect those children who cannot be vaccinated due to serious illnesses”. To achieve vaccination coverage objectives, Fimp is also involved with the VaccinAZIONE project. “We have always been at the forefront with various initiatives. At this moment we are committed to promoting training and refresher courses throughout the national territory” he concludes.
#Meningitis #day #pediatrician #Rongai #Lazio #coverage #stops
