Risk of entering a 24-hour life-and-death race due to meningococcal disease in children

(Dan Tri) - In the first years of life, with an incomplete immune system, young children are at high risk of contracting meningococcal disease, which can take their lives within just 24 hours of the first symptoms. Vaccination is a safe and highly effective way to proactively prevent the disease.

In just over the first 2 months of 2025, hospitals across the country have continuously recorded severe cases of meningococcal disease, including deaths. For example, the 108 Military Central Hospital ( Hanoi ) admitted a 24-year-old soldier who died of circulatory arrest and fulminant meningococcal septic shock. Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi) treated a 17-year-old unvaccinated teenager with critical meningococcal disease, complications of myocarditis and cerebral infarction. 74 close contacts are being monitored for their health status.

Previously, a 7-year-old patient in Co Linh commune, Pac Nam district, Bac Kan fell into a coma and had circulatory arrest due to meningococcus just a few hours after being admitted to the hospital.

Children under 5 years old, especially children under 1 year old, are at high risk of meningococcal disease (Photo: Shutterstock).

Experts say that meningococcal disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract or indirect contact, sharing contaminated objects. All ages are at risk of contracting the disease. Children under 5 years old, especially children under 1 year old, are at the highest risk of contracting meningococcal disease due to their weak and incomplete immune systems. Children often have the habit of crawling on the floor, putting their hands or objects in their mouths, and living in playgrounds and kindergartens with many other children, increasing their risk of contracting the disease.

Children can be infected with meningococcus through toys and personal items that are not properly cleaned (Photo: Shutterstock).

According to the Department of Disease Prevention ( Ministry of Health ), the number of people carrying meningococcal bacteria without symptoms accounts for 5-25%. This is a source of infection that is difficult to control and is especially dangerous for children when adults or older children in the family carry the same disease and kiss, hug, or talk closely with the child.

Parents can be healthy carriers of the virus, infecting children through hugging and kissing (Photo: Shutterstock).

Meningococcal disease can cause death within 24 hours with many serious complications such as: meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, arthritis, otitis media, pericarditis... Early symptoms of meningococcal disease are similar to flu and are a challenge for correct diagnosis at an early stage. Up to 20% of survivors face many sequelae such as amputation of limbs, deafness, epilepsy, mental retardation...

A four-year study at 10 children's hospitals in the United States found that of 146 survivors of meningococcal meningitis from under 12 months to 19 years of age, 14 children had unilateral or bilateral deafness, two had amputations, and one had all four limbs. Hearing loss was more common in infants and toddlers under 2 years of age than in older children. Sequelae such as musculoskeletal disorders, learning disabilities, and kidney failure can appear years or even decades after infection.

Meningococcal disease can leave many permanent sequelae such as paralysis and amputation (Photo: Shutterstock).

In addition to the severe sequelae, meningococcal disease also causes billions of dong in treatment and recovery costs. The disease also brings mental and psychological burdens to families and caregivers, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and mental disorders.

Experts recommend that proactive disease prevention for children as well as family members is the way to repel meningococcal disease. The common meningococcal serogroups A, B, C, W, Y have vaccines available in Vietnam, including vaccines against groups A, C, Y, W-135 from the US, group B from Italy, and groups B, C from Cuba. It is necessary to fully prevent all 5 groups of meningococcal bacteria A, B, C, Y, W-135.

A US study on mortality rates by meningococcal serogroup reported from 2017 to 2021 found that group W had the highest mortality rate, accounting for 21.5%, followed by groups C, Y, and B with 14.6%, 9.8%, and 9.6%, respectively.

Since its introduction, the quadrivalent conjugate vaccine A, C, Y, W-135 has reduced the number of cases of disease in adolescents caused by the major serogroups C, Y, and W by up to 90%.

Children and adolescents need to be fully vaccinated against all five serogroups that cause meningococcal disease (Photo: Moc Mien).

In addition, families apply other disease prevention measures such as avoiding contact with people showing signs of respiratory infections. Parents should have their children wear masks when going to crowded places, instruct them to wash their hands properly with soap, wear masks when going to crowded places, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nguy-co-buoc-vao-cuoc-dua-sinh-tu-24-gio-do-nao-mo-cau-o-tre-nho-20250508111334798.htm