How can meningitis be prevented

Mycobacterium tuberculosis , which causes tuberculosis or TB , is a less common cause of bacterial meningitis called TB meningitis.

Many of these bacteria can also be associated with another serious illness, sepsis. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Without timely treatment, sepsis can quickly lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death. These risk factors include:. In many countries, TB is much more common than in the United States.

Travelers should avoid close contact or prolonged time with known TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments for example, clinics, hospitals, prisons, or homeless shelters. Certain germs that cause bacterial meningitis, such as L.

But most of these germs spread from one person to another. How people spread the germs often depends on the type of bacteria. It is also important to know that people can have these bacteria in or on their bodies without being sick. Here are some of the most common examples of how people spread each type of bacteria to each other:. People usually get sick from E. Pregnant people with a Listeria infection may not have any symptoms or may only have a fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches.

Bacterial meningitis such as meningococcal meningitis can cause serious illness. It begins with flu-like symptoms and can quickly become life-threatening or may lead to permanent disability such as deafness or brain damage. If you are armed with the right information, it is possible to prevent meningitis. Here are the top tips for preventing meningitis:.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but life-threatening bacterial infection. Tissues called meninges form a protective shield over your brain and spinal cord. How does meningitis spread? The disease is most often caused by bacteria or a virus, with the viral form of the disease usually being less serious than bacterial meningitis.

Bacterial meningitis can cause hearing loss, brain damage, other disabilities, and even death — and it's contagious, potentially transmitted through kissing or sharing close quarters with an infected person.

The most effective way to prevent meningitis is to get vaccinated against the disease. There are currently two vaccines available in the U. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting vaccinated against meningitis at age 11 or 12, followed by a booster shot at age 16 to You have an increased risk of contracting meningitis between the ages of 16 and 21 and when living in close quarters with others, such as in a college dorm.

If you're headed to college and will be living in a dorm, be sure to get up to date with immunizations. The vaccine to prevent meningitis is also recommended if you're entering the military, traveling, or planning to live in a country where bacterial meningitis is common. Getting vaccinated against measles , mumps, rubella, and chickenpox can help prevent diseases that can lead to viral meningitis.

Please refer to the National Immunisation Plan. Hib vaccines protect against Haemophilus Influenzae Type B. The Hib vaccine is on the National Immunisation Plan in Australia and is given at 2months, 4 months, 6 months and 18 months.

Conjugated Hib vaccines are highly effective in preventing Hib disease and are recommended for routine use in all infants. Meningitis-preventing vaccines have proven to be extremely safe. Because they are composed of purified polysaccharide and protein, there is no possibility of contracting meningitis or any other infection from these vaccines.

Safe, effective vaccines are now available for many common types of meningitis and new vaccines are in development all the time. Prevention Home Meningitis Prevention.