The most effective way to protect you and your child against certain types of bacterial meningitis is to complete the recommended vaccine schedule. There are vaccines for three types of bacteria that can cause meningitis.
• Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus).
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus).
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Antibiotics may be recommended for close contacts of people with meningococcal meningitis. Antibiotics may also be recommended for the entire family if a family member develops severe Hib infection and there’s a high-risk person in the house. This is to decrease the risk of spreading disease to that person, since they are at increased risk for severe disease. Your doctor or local health department will tell you if there’s a high-risk person in your house and whether antibiotics are needed.
Maintaining healthy habits, like not smoking and avoiding cigarette smoke, getting plenty of rest, and not coming into close contact with people who are sick, can also help. This is especially important for young infants, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system, since they are at increased risk for severe disease.