The objective of the meeting is to promote correct information on bacterial infections such as meningitis and on prevention strategies
Milan, May 20. (Adnkronos Salute) – ‘Take care of meningitis first: act today to protect tomorrow. Stories that help you choose’: this is the title of the meeting open to the public, which took place today in Milan, in the Medicine room of the Niguarda hospital, promoted by Adnkronos Comunicazione, with the unconditional support of Gsk. During the meeting, created with the aim of promoting correct information on bacterial infections such as meningitis and on prevention strategies, the short film ‘Los Otros’ was screened, created by the National Committee against Meningitis, inspired by the story of Amelia Vitiello , who experienced the tragedy of losing her 18-month-old daughter to a meningococcal B.
In Italy, in recent years, a reduction in the annual average of notifications of meningitis cases has been observed, with a higher number of cases during the winter period and among children under 12 months of age. According to data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, in Italy in 2019 there were 190 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, in 2020, 74 cases and in 2021 the cases fell further to 26. Decrease probably influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the various serotypes, in the last three years, B was found most frequently in the entire population and in the different age groups, followed by C, Y and W. In the same period of time, however, no reported cases of serotypes A. yx
“However, we must not think only in terms of numbers. Meningitis is a rare but very serious pathology, with disabling and often fatal results – warns Filippo Salvini, head of pediatric emergencies at the Niguarda hospital in Milan – because in a few hours it can cause death. This occurs in 10% of cases and in 10-20% of survivors there is permanent brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, amputations. A risk that is greater in young children. Not always – Salvini continues – we are able to contain the damage with pharmacological therapies. That is why it is important to think preventively with a vaccine prophylaxis”.
“That is why it is important to ‘worry’, without alarmism, but with correct information about the prevention tools available, such as vaccines”, emphasizes Maurizio Orso, head of the vaccination center at the Niguarda hospital. “Most meningococcal disease in humans is due to serotypes A, B, C, W135 and Y and there are three types of vaccines available for these. In our Region, the meningococcal C vaccine, recommended and offered free of charge from the 1st year of life, for vaccination against measles-mumps-rubella; the ACW135Y meningococcal vaccine is offered free to adolescents at the time of HPV vaccination and remains free to all unvaccinated until the age of majority. The meningococcal B vaccine is recommended and offered free of charge to all babies born after 2017.”
“Young people who have just reached the age of majority -explains Orso- can choose autonomously for a year to focus on their own prevention. Added to these objectives are people with chronic diseases and also their cohabitants. It should be noted that for age groups not covered by the ‘institutionality’, there is always the possibility of contacting the vaccination centers and carrying out the meningococcal vaccination with the co-payment formula. To do this -he concludes- we need to increase the culture of vaccination and carry out a joint action among doctors in a preventive key. From here, the invitation is to contact their own doctors and specialized centers to clear up any doubts”.
The event was also attended by Catia Rosanna Borriello, head of the Infectious Diseases, Vaccination and Prevention Performance Structure of the General Directorate of Welfare of the Lombardy Region; the pediatrician Piercarlo Salari and the lawyer Amelia Vitiello, president of the national committee against meningitis.
(Adnkronos)
