Travelers' Health: Meningitis

A dangerous disease that affects all ages and able to render its victims dangerously ill within hours of infection is an important disease that travelers need to understand. Meningitis most commonly associated with kids and teenagers is also a problem for international travelers. According to the Center for Disease Control Travelers’ Health at any time 5 to 10% of the world’s population may be a carrier for meningitis.

Meningitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The later is more common, far less powerful, and with a shorter recovery time. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections but patients recover within 7 to 10 days on their own.

Bacterial meningitis is the deadliest and less common of the two. According to the CDC 10 to 15% of the world’s population carries meningococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat. Meningitis transfers when items such as food, utensils, glasses, water bottles, tissues, towels, lip-gloss, and lipstick are contaminated and shared; the bacteria enters the body and heads straight for the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. After infection symptoms can begin anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days; there they cause swelling in the meninges which brings on flu like symptoms of nausea, fever, headache, and pain. As the disease progresses the symptoms become severe with throat swelling, high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, and mental confusion; if untreated it can lead to serious health problems such as a loss of limb, hearing loss, vision loss, learning disabilities, or mental retardation.

Meningitis is treatable if proper medical care is sought immediately. The most important step to determining treatment for meningococcal disease is defining the type of meningitis. Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial meningococcal but additional medications might be needed to treat other symptoms. A hospital stay will be determined by the doctor and the severity of the symptoms. People in close contact with those treated for meningitis need to be seen by a Health Care Provider.

In particular, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends vaccination against meningococcal disease to persons who travel to or reside in countries in which meningitis is hyperendemic, especially if exposure to the local population will be prolonged. Those at greater risk are young children, adults over 50, and people with recent upper respiratory illness. Meningococcal disease vaccination is required for travelers to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj when prolonged close contact is necessary. The vaccination is also highly recommended for travelers to the Meningitis belt of Africa during the dry season between December and June.

6 things to do to protect against Meningitis:

1. Vaccinate! Ask your Health Care Provider about the Hib and pneumococcal vaccines for meningitis.

2. Wash hands with soap and water.

3. Well-balanced diets rich in veggies and fruits.

4. Get enough sleep; a strong immune system works better.

5. Exercise regularly to help your immune system stay strong.

6. Don’t share food, utensils, glasses, water bottles, tissues, towels, lip-gloss, or lipstick.

The CDC Travelers’ Health report should be checked before traveling internationally to identify possible health threats such as epidemic s of meningitis.

http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/index.html

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/diseases.aspx

http://www.meningitis.org/