Parents 'unaware' of meningitis strains

Most Irish parents are unaware of the strains of meningitis which are preventable by vaccine, according to a support group for people affected by the disease.

The Meningitis Trust says a significant majority of parents who have children under the age of five claim meningitis is the disease they most fear.

Yet a survey conducted by the trust indicated half of parents were unaware of the various types of meningitis and three quarters didn’t know which types can be vaccinated against.

As part of European Immunisation Week and the first annual World Meningitis Day on Saturday, the trust today urged parents to vaccinate their children against pneumococcal disease, including pneumococcal meningitis.

It said young children are particularly at risk from pneumococcal disease and vaccination will protect against the most common forms of pneumococcal disease such as meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning), pneumonia and middle ear infection.

The vaccine is now part of the National Childhood Immunisation Programme and all children born after September 2nd 2006 can avail of it in a catch-up programme which is provided free by local GPs.

Spokeswoman Carole Nealon said our research shows that 40 per cent of parents get medical information on meningitis from their GP or doctor.

Ms Nealon said: “We’d like to see 100 per cent of parents talking to their GP about the catch-up pneumococcal meningitis vaccine as soon as possible”

However, she warned parents there are many strains of meningitis, and this vaccine is only for pneumococcal meningitis and there is no vaccine for the meningococcal B strain.

“In the absence of a vaccine to protect against all strains of meningitis, the Meningitis Trust urges people to be vigilant of the signs of the disease and trust their instincts,” she said.

“We know first hand how people’s lives can be irrevocably changed by meningitis and parents need to know that vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis and save lives,” she added.

There have been about 4,000 cases of bacterial meningitis in Ireland over the last 10 years and more than twice as many cases of viral meningitis.

About three children, under the age of five, die every year from pneumococcal meningitis.

One child out of every five who gets pneumococcal meningitis will die, while half of those who survive will be left with some level of disability ranging from brain damage to deafness.

Common symptoms, of which parents should be aware, include a fever: but with cold hands and feet: refusing food or vomiting: Pale, blotchy skin: blank, staring expression: fretful or a dislike to being held and handled: stiff neck and/or an arched back: drowsy, difficult to wake: high pitched cry.