Meningococcal Disease in Pediatric Age: A Focus on Epidemiology and Prevention

Giada Maria Di Pietro, Giulia Biffi, Massimo Luca Castellazzi, Claudia Tagliabue, Raffaella Pinzani, Samantha Bosis and Paola Giovanna Marchisio
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Giada Maria Di Pietro: Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy
Giulia Biffi: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy
Massimo Luca Castellazzi: Pediatric Emergency Department IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy
Claudia Tagliabue: Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy
Raffaella Pinzani: Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy
Samantha Bosis: Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy
Paola Giovanna Marchisio: Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, IRCCS Ca’ Granda Foundation, Policlinico Hospital, 20122 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis ; 13 serogroups have been identified and differentiated from each other through their capsular polysaccharide. Serotypes A, B, C, W, X, and Y are responsible for nearly all infections worldwide. The most common clinical manifestations are meningitis and invasive meningococcal disease, both characterized by high mortality and long-term sequelae. The infection rate is higher in children younger than 1 year and in adolescents, who are frequently asymptomatic carriers. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infection and transmission. Currently, both monovalent meningococcal vaccines (against A, B, and C serotypes) and quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines (against serogroups ACYW) are available and recommended according to local epidemiology. The purpose of this article is to describe the meningococcal vaccines and to identify instruments that are useful for reducing transmission and implementing the vaccination coverage. This aim could be reached by switching from the monovalent to the quadrivalent vaccine in the first year of life, increasing vaccine promotion against ACYW serotypes among adolescents, and extending the free offer of the anti-meningococcal B vaccine to teens, co-administering it with others proposed in the same age group. Greater awareness of the severity of the disease and increased health education through web and social networks could represent the best strategies for promoting adhesion and active participation in the vaccination campaign. Finally, the development of a licensed universal meningococcal vaccine should be another important objective.

Keywords: invasive meningococcal disease; children; adolescents; meningococcal vaccines; immunization program (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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