First World Meningitis Day on April 25

The first annual World Meningitis Day will be observed on April 25, 2009. The World Meningitis Day was created by the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations to raise awareness about the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of meningitis.

Welcoming the move to raise awareness about meningitis among parents, Dr Nitin Shah, chairperson of the India chapter of Asian Strategic Alliance for Pneumococcal Disease Prevention (ASAP), said: "Meningitis, if not detected and treated in time, can lead to hearing loss, blindness, loss of normal body functions and sometimes death."

He said parents should seek immediate medical help if they saw some of these symptoms: fever combined with cold hands and feet, fretful - not wanting to be picked up or held; blank and staring expression; drowsy and difficult to wake; stiff neck and arched back and high pitch cry, refusal to feed, or convulsion.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain lining, or meninges. It is caused by either bacteria or virus. Viral meningitis is more common. The disease can be transmitted through coughing and sneezing or contact with some patient.

"Bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics but it is important to catch the disease early." Dr Shah said. Children are more at risk.

Vaccines are available in India against two common bacteria that can cause meningitis - Haemophilus b conjugate vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents meningitis caused by the measles and mumps viruses.