Things to Know About The Meningococcal Disease

Protecting our children from the very moment they are born is part of our natural makeup. We agonize over every little decision from choosing the perfect name to setting up the nursery. Breast or bottle? Is that a cry of hunger or discomfort? Are they warm enough? Too warm? What school is right for my little one? We read books, blog posts, ask friends and family for advice and hope our instincts are right. I know these are things I have worried over! Health and safety is a huge part of what we focus on and for good reason.

Many diseases can have long lasting and potentially serious effects that may be avoided- Meningococcal disease is one that can have potentially devastating consequences. You can talk to your doctor or public health clinic about where to vaccines to help trotect your child against meningococcal disease.

Are you on the fence about getting your child vaccinated against the various bacteria strains that cause meningococcal disease?

 It is a decision not to take lightly for sure. It should be weighed out carefully as you gather information to make the right choice so I wanted to share with you some information that may help you make an informed decision. Because while meningococcal disease is rare, the effects can potentially lead to life-threatening situations and it is always best to have all the facts. You may not know that taking advantage of the available vaccinations can help protect the ones you love.

Here are some very important things to know about meningococcal disease:

• The meningococcus bacteria can cause serious diseases like meningitis or septicemia.
• The five most common strains of bacteria that cause meningococcal disease in Canada are A,B,C,W-135, and Y; there are vaccines available to help prevent disease caused by all five strains.
• Infants and adolescents are at the greatest risk of getting meningococcal disease.
• Early signs and symptoms can be flu-like and it is not always a quick diagnosis in early stages.
• Some of the symptoms can be fever, headache, body aches and pains and can progress very quickly.
• It is bacteria that is spread by respiratory or throat secretions- close contact like coughing or kissing. It can also be spread through other ways, like sharing cutlery and drinking glasses.
• Antibiotics are the usual course of treatment for anyone who gets the disease. But even with treatment, it may still be fatal in about 10 per cent of cases.

Protecting my family, especially my sweet children, is my top priority as I am sure it is yours as well. We have so much to worry over and it can be nice to have one less thing on your mind. Do your research, talk to your physician, health department, and make a choice to help protect them. Learn more about meningococcal disease today.

Disclosure: Although this post has been sponsored by GSK, the opinions and language are my own. This post will not be monitored by GSK. If you need to report an adverse event for any GSK product, please call 1-800-387-7374.