In collaboration with Adnkronos. When it comes to meningitis, the population generally recognizes its danger, but often does not know its consequences. As a bacterial disease, it affects the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, normally sterile environments, with very serious, disabling consequences and a fatal outcome for 10% of affected patients, despite treatment.
Furthermore, 10-20% of survivors may suffer brain damage, deafness, learning disabilities and amputations, risks that are greater in early childhood. These data and how to encourage prevention were discussed during the round table “Let’s worry about meningitis in Campania: the protection of pediatric patients”, an initiative by Adnkronos Comunicazione with the unconditional support of GlaxoSmithKline. An event that brought together regional institutional and clinical representatives, who took stock of this post-pandemic phase and the innovation strategies to be implemented in the coming months, to increase vaccination culture.
“We must protect the little ones from the first months of life. Type B meningitis has a peak already between 4 and 8 months of life – he underlined Carla Ungaro, medical director of Pediatrics at ASL Napoli 1. “Completing the vaccination cycle is important and the pediatrician, together with any specialists who meet the child, must provide scientific and unequivocal information to families. Also because without prevention the consequences can be disabling, sometimes even lethal. Not vaccinating is not a way to avoid risks, but rather an option that exposes the child to dangers far more serious than an adverse event”.
The introduction of mandatory vaccinations with the Lorenzin law of 2017, as a necessary condition for accessing nursery schools, has given further impetus to achieving the coverage envisaged by the National Vaccination Prevention Plan, but it is necessary to act so that the prophylaxis cycle is not interrupted. "We must take care of listening and counseling with families - continued Ongaro -, especially for those who have children with special needs. However, it should not be overlooked that not vaccinating is a way to avoid risks, because in reality, children are exposed to dangers far more serious than an adverse event".
Dialogue and correct information are the basis for knowing and making informed decisions, even for Amelia Vitiello, president of the association Free from meningitis, who spoke at the roundtable remotely. An active spokesperson in informing families about the seriousness of the consequences of the bacterial disease, Vitiello recalled her personal experience as a mother who lost her baby girl at a time when there was no effective vaccine. “The national committee was born in 2011 following our experience as parents, who had the misfortune of losing a child to meningitis. A rare disease, but one that continues to claim victims and harm children, leaving significant consequences for their quality of life. Prevention is the best weapon available, vaccines are safe. Talk to your doctor, express your doubts. And do not rely on information without any scientific validation, perhaps taken from the internet”.
Article published on 13 October 2022 - 16:09
