Meningococcal disease - what parents need to understand to be prepared.

During the period 2020 - 2022 when Covid-19 was being controlled with many positive measures, 40 cases of meningococcal infection were still recorded nationwide (1)*.

Báo Thanh niên•19/11/2025

Rapid progression, severe complications, high risk of death - meningococcal meningitis becomes a danger to children (1)

According to the Ministry of Health 's statistical yearbook, in the period 2011 - 2018, Vietnam had more than 680 cases and 35 deaths due to meningococcal disease. In the period 2020 - 2022, when Covid-19 was being controlled with many positive measures, 40 cases of meningococcal infection were still recorded nationwide (1). Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (also called meningococcus). At least 13 distinct meningococcal groups have been identified, of which only 6 serotypes (A, B, C, W-135, X, Y) cause life-threatening disease (1). And in Vietnam, up to more than 90% of meningococcal cases are caused by serotype B (2)(3)(4)(5). Acute meningococcal septicemia usually progresses very quickly and is dangerous. Once symptoms appear, this condition can be fatal within 24 hours (1).

According to Dr. Nguyen Huy Luan, Head of the Vaccination Unit - University Medical Center Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City: "Meningococcal disease leaves behind severe sequelae such as skin scars, limb amputation, brain damage or permanent deafness (1)."

Meningococcal disease - what parents need to understand to be prepared - Image 1.

Some complications/sequelae of meningococcal disease: Skin scarring, along with limb amputation complications, neurological deficits/sequelae, hearing loss/impairment, vision loss… (1)

Notably, children under 5 years old are the most susceptible group to invasive meningococcal disease, especially children from 5 - 8 months old, which is the period with the highest rate of meningococcal disease (1).

Next is the group of teenagers and students aged 15-24, who are also at high risk. This group has a high rate of carrying the pathogen and often lives in crowded, concentrated living conditions (1).

Besides, because meningococcal disease is transmitted directly through the respiratory tract, crowded places such as kindergartens, schools, dormitories, hospitals, etc. are also favorable factors for the disease to spread (1).

Vaccination to build a protective barrier for children's future (1)

Sharing more about the dangers of meningococcal disease, Dr. Nguyen Huy Luan - Head of the Vaccination Unit of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City said: "One of the dangers of meningococcal disease is that the initial symptoms of the disease are easily confused with some other diseases, so it is easy to misdiagnose, even by medical staff (1)(7). And once symptoms appear, the disease can cause death within 24 hours (1). Therefore, don't wait until there are clear symptoms to react, sometimes it is too late. Parents need to learn early to raise awareness, especially to have a plan to vaccinate against meningococcal disease, including serotype B, early to protect their children from the 'scythe' of this dangerous disease."

Meningococcal disease - what parents need to understand to be prepared - Image 2.

"To date, vaccination remains one of the simplest but highly effective measures to combat the risk of meningococcal disease in general and meningococcal serogroup B disease in particular. The Preventive Medicine Association has also encouraged meningococcal serogroup B vaccination for children as early as possible (1)." - Dr. Huy Luan added. (**)

Prevention is better than cure. To do this well, parents need to improve their knowledge and awareness, and continuously update information so that they can protect their children from the risk of meningococcal disease from an early age. (**)

Get your child vaccinated early to protect them from the worry of meningococcal serogroup B disease (1). Contact your doctor for advice on meningococcal serogroup B vaccination or find out more at https://tiemngua.com/hieu-ve-benh-tre-em/nao-mo-cau

This document is for the public.

This document was compiled jointly by the Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine and GSK Vietnam Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Please consult a healthcare professional for more information.

Code: NP-VN-MNU-ADVR-250006; ADD: October 2025

Source:

(1): Prevention of meningococcal disease in Vietnam. Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine (2024).

(2): Van et al. Infection and Drug Resistance 2021:14 5261-5269

(3): Phan, TV, et al., Characterizing Neisseria meningitidis in Southern Vietnam between 2012 and 2021: A predominance of the chloramphenicol-resistant ST-1576 lineage. IJID Regions, 2024. 10: p. 52-59.

(4): Trieu Phi Long, Le Thu Ha, and Le Hai Yen and colleagues, Epidemiological surveillance of meningococcal infection in some military units in the Northern region (2008 - 2014). Vietnam Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2015. 2(10).

(5): T. Phan, NH, D. Vo, H. Pham, T. Ho, H. Nguyen, TV Nguyen,, Characterization of Neisseria meningitidis in Vietnam from 1980s-2019. Bacterial infections / International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2020. 101(S1 (2021)): p. 120-158.

(6): Simon Nadel et al, Treatment of Meningococcal Disease, Journal of Adolescent Health, Volume 59, Issue 2, 2016, Pages S21-S28, ISSN 1054-139X.

(7): Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367:397-403.

(*) The number of NMC cases recorded in Vietnam through the surveillance system according to Circular 54/2015/TT-BYT.

(**) The content shared is based on the clinical experience of the physician. Symptoms and experiences with meningococcal disease may vary from person to person.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/benh-nao-mo-cau-bo-me-can-hieu-de-luong-truoc-185251118175039448.htm