Infectious Diseases More Infectious Diseases Print Prevention of Meningitis Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Claudia Chaves, MD on August 06, 2019 Claudia Chaves, MD is board-certified in cerebrovascular disease and neurology, with a subspecialty certification in vascular neurology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Claudia Chaves, MD Written by facebook Written by Vincent Iannelli, MD Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial policy Vincent Iannelli, MD Updated on August 06, 2019 Meningitis Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention In This Article Table of Contents Expand Vaccination Lifestyle Medications View All Your risk of meningitis can be substantially decreased by taking both practical and medical approaches. All of this, importantly, starts with vaccination, which can protect you from the most common causes. Keeping up good hygiene habits and limiting exposure to or the sharing of items with someone with meningitis are also essential, since most cases of meningitis are infectious. The infections that cause meningitis are spread by coughing, sneezing, kissing, and touching contaminated objects. While it is impossible to completely avoid contact with contaminated fluids that are spread this way, you can try to avoid getting "sprayed" whenever possible. Vaccination There are vaccines that can help prevent the most common causes of meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine: The Hib vaccine protects young children against pneumonia, bacteremia (a blood infection), epiglottitis, and some other infections that are caused by the shot's namesake bacteria. Children routinely start getting the Hib vaccine when they are 2 months old, ending with a booster dose when they are 12 to 15 months old.Meningococcal vaccines prevent many Neisseria meningitides infections (see below).Pneumococcal (Prevnar) prevents many Streptococcus pneumoniae infections and is recommended for infants age 2, 4 and 6 months, and again at 12-15 months.Mumps vaccine: Two doses are recommended for children—one between12 to 15 months of age and another between ages 4 to 6. The mumps vaccine is given as part of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or the measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is recommended between ages 12 to 15 months and again between ages 4 to 6. Vaccines for certain causes of meningitis, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, are not available. Meningococcal Vaccines The meningococcal vaccines protect against several strains of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, which can cause meningitis and meningococcemia, a life-threatening bloodstream infection. These quadrivalent vaccines protect against the meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. Meningococcal vaccines include: Menactra: MCV4 vaccine covering serogroups A, C, W, YMenveo: MCV4 vaccine covering serogroups A, C, W, YBexsero: MenB vaccine covering serogroup B onlyTrumenba: MenB vaccine covering serogroup B only It is currently recommended that either Menactra or Menveo be given to all children at their routine visit when they are 11 or 12 years old. Teens should also get it when they start high school or if they are going to be living in a dorm at college and haven't gotten a meningococcal vaccine yet. Unless they are in a high-risk group, most younger children do not receive a meningococcal vaccine. If needed, vaccines can be given to younger children at the following ages: Menveo beginning at 2 monthsMenactra beginning at 9 monthsBexsero or Trumenba beginning at 10 years According to the CDC, Menactra or Menveo are also recommended for the following groups: People who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak (MenB vaccines are also recommended)U.S. military recruitsAnyone traveling to or living in a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts of AfricaAnyone who has a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removedAnyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder)Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria Menactra, Menveo, Bexsero, and Trumenba are free of thimerosal and other preservatives (as are most current childhood vaccinations). Lifestyle The infectious organisms that cause meningitis are fairly common in the environment. You can take measures to reduce your chances of developing meningitis by avoiding these germs as much as possible. Infants, people who have a weak immune system, and the elderly are at a higher risk of developing meningitis. These groups may also experience more serious disease and be more likely to develop complications. If you are taking care of someone who is in one of these at-risk groups, attention to lifestyle aspects of prevention is particularly important. Practice good hygiene: Habits and routines, such as hand washing and wiping counters, can help keep the infectious organisms that cause meningitis away. If you shake hands with many people in, say, a business setting, periodically washing up throughout the day is a worthy practice.Avoid close contact/sharing items: The infections that cause meningitis are contagious, but you don't necessarily need to be exposed to someone with meningitis to get it. For example, someone may have chickenpox and transmit it to you. While they may not develop meningitis, you may. If you are able to avoid becoming infected by avoiding co-workers who might be sick, encouraging your colleagues or friends of your children to stay home when they are sick, you can help reduce the spread of infections. Choose your residence wisely: Close living quarters, such as in a college or military setting, can increase your chances of getting a meningitis infection. Living alone or changing your residence may not be realistic or desirable. That said, if you have an immune deficiency, it is worth thinking twice about living with large groups of people—especially if you have obvious alternatives. Medications Medication use can reduce or increase your chances of developing meningitis, although the impact of medications on meningitis is not as strong as that of vaccination and lifestyle factors. Treating Infections The infections that cause meningitis may also affect other systems of the body, such as the respiratory system. Treating other infections early on, before they progress, can reduce your chances of developing meningitis. Antibiotics or antivirals can prevent some infections from becoming exceptionally aggressive in some instances. Meningitis can be bacterial or viral. Viral meningitis normally improves on its own without antiviral treatment. Bacterial meningitis can progress and even be fatal in some cases. Antibiotic treatment is recommended to prevent serious complications. Whether or not your doctor is concerned that an infection could progress and cause meningitis is based on your overall health, your infection, and the likelihood of meningitis exposure (like during an outbreak). Medication Precautions There are some medications that can cause meningitis. Developing meningitis in response to medications is not common, but it's good to be aware of this potential effect so you can bring any suspect symptoms you may experience while taking them to your doctor's attention. Meningitis Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. In general, it is not a good idea to use prescription or over-the-counter drugs excessively, especially if you have a condition for which medication has not been shown to be effective. Medications that have caused rare cases of meningitis: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)Antimicrobials, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazoleImmunoglobulinsImmunosuppressantsChemotherapeutic medicationsIntrathecal injections (medications administered through spinal fluid) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Disease Information. Resources for Healthcare Professionals. Meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Meningococcal ACWY. Immunization Action Coalition Prevention.Viral Meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Drug-induced aseptic meningitis. Medscape Additional Reading Bruner KE, Coop CA, White KM. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-induced aseptic meningitis-not just another sulfa allergy. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Nov;113(5):520-6. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2014.08.006. Epub 2014 Sep 17. Kepa L Oczko-Grzesik B, Stolarz W, Sobala-Szczygiel B. Drug-induced aseptic meningitis in suspected central nervous system infections. J Clin Neurosci. 2005 Jun;12(5):562-4. Continue Reading