Even though it is curable, bacterial meningitis can cause lifelong disabilities in children. Children who survive childhood bacterial meningitis can suffer from long-term disabilities affecting their postural control and cognitive abilities, as well as sensorimotor impairments and motor dysfunction.
Meningococcal infection has a long-lasting impact. Many survivors have a reduced IQ, memory problems, and concentration and planning difficulties.
A study found that one third of children with bacterial meningitis suffer permanent neurological disabilities as a result of the infection.
The World Health Organization developed a plan to improve meningitis treatment and diagnosis, disease monitoring, advocacy for health, support and aftercare in order to eliminate meningitis before 2030.
The study
The research published by JAMA Network Open, led by Karolinska Institutet sheds light on this potentially fatal infection’s long-term effects, even after successful antibiotic treatment.
Antibiotics are often effective in destroying the bacteria, but the scars left behind can last for years. These lasting impairments are most prevalent in children, who are impressionable and vulnerable. Impaired motor skills, vision, or hearing can have a significant impact on lives. They require constant support, and leave a lasting mark not only on the individual, but also their family and society.
Researchers compared 3,500 cases of meningitis in children to a control group by analyzing 35-year-old Swedish data. The study followed the children for more than two decades and revealed a shocking truth: meningitis patients had a higher risk of neurological disability compared to healthy peers.
The most common concerns were structural head injuries (26-fold more likely), hearing impairment (almost eight times), and motor impairments (almost five times). One in three survivors of meningitis had at least one neurological problem, which was three times higher than the rate for the control group.
The research team led by Dr. Federico Iovino is leading the development of new treatment. They want to protect brain neurons in the crucial window between an infection and full antibiotic effect. Early promising results from studies on human neurons pave the path for preclinical trials in animals, bringing clinical application closer.
When the infection is gone, your fight against bacterial Meningitis doesn’t end. Understanding the long-term effects and actively searching for neuroprotective solutions can help us offer children a chance to thrive beyond this devastating illness.
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