Why do children get meningitis?

When meningitis occurs in children, it is easy for the brain nerves to be burned and even cause the child's death. Therefore, when a child is diagnosed with meningitis, it is recommended that mothers take their children to the doctor in time to minimize the severity of the disease. However, children suffer from meningitis mainly because the meninges are infected by bacteria and spread through saliva. I hope we can understand the cause of the disease better.

Bacteria that cause meningitis are very common. Many people, including children and adults, become infected with these bacteria without experiencing any symptoms of illness. These bacteria live harmlessly in the nose or throat, and these people are called healthy carriers, and are the source of most infection spread compared to those who look visibly sick.

People can only spread diseases through close, direct contact, such as kissing, coughing or sneezing. The disease can also be spread through saliva or by sharing food, cups, water bottles, cigarettes, lipstick, toothbrushes or mouthpieces. Fortunately, bacteria die quickly outside the body, making them not very contagious.

Children under 2 years old are most at risk for meningococcal and pneumococcal infections. People aged 15 to 24 who develop meningococcal infection are at slightly increased risk. Other risk factors include a compromised immune system or having a child with sickle cell disease or another chronic illness.

Infants under 1 year old typically have a fever and become irritable. They may have trouble feeding and become sleepy. They may vomit, have a stiff neck, or have a swollen fontanelle (the soft part of the baby's head). In older children, early symptoms of meningitis are fever and major changes in behavior, such as drowsiness, decreased consciousness, crying or excitement. Other symptoms include severe headache, pain when turning the head or a stiff neck, general malaise and seizures.

About two-thirds of children with meningococcal meningitis develop a rash of red spots that do not go away or turn white when pressed and that grow large and spread quickly. Without treatment, especially with antibiotics, all children with meningitis will die or suffer lasting damage. Even with treatment, about one in 20 children cannot be cured, and many survivors have some form of brain damage.