The alarm was raised by the State Department of Health (Sesa) after recording 82 cases and four deaths from meningitis this year in Paraná. Meningitis, an inflammation of the meninges, can be caused by viruses, bacteria and fungi. Symptoms such as fever, headache, neck stiffness, malaise, nausea and mental confusion require immediate medical assistance. If not diagnosed quickly, the disease can result in sequelae and even death within 24 hours.
The panorama of meningitis in Paraná and Brazil
From 2019 to 2023, Paraná recorded 6,402 cases and 429 deaths from meningitis, according to preliminary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan Net). In Brazil, the disease is classified as endemic, with cases expected throughout the year and occasional occurrences of outbreaks and epidemics. Although it can affect people of all ages, children are more likely to get it.
Prevention: the importance of vaccination
One of the main means of preventing meningitis is vaccination. The National Vaccination Calendar has 19 vaccines for children up to two years old. Five of these vaccines offer protection against meningitis and can be found at vaccination centers and Health Units throughout the State. In Paraná, vaccination coverage of children under two years of age with the meningo C vaccine was 81.32% in 2023. The goal is to reach 90% to 95% vaccination coverage.
Additional prevention measures
In addition to vaccination, measures such as keeping environments ventilated, avoiding crowds in places with restricted ventilation, taking care of hygiene and hand washing and using respiratory etiquette (covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing) are also essential to prevent the disease.
Symptoms and treatment of meningitis
The symptoms of meningitis vary between children and adults. Parents should be aware of intense crying, irritability, refusal to eat, high fever, vomiting and convulsions in children. In adults, symptoms such as high fever, headache, stiff neck, malaise, nausea, intolerance to light, mental confusion and convulsions may indicate the disease. If you experience these symptoms, the recommendation is to go immediately to the nearest health unit for immediate diagnosis and initiation of treatment.
Sesa reinforces that “meningitis is a serious disease, it can leave consequences and even lead to death, therefore, keeping the vaccination schedule up to date in conjunction with other prevention measures is essential”.