This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
The World Health Organization (WHO) published its very first world guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and management of meningitis on Thursday.
They aim to accelerate screening, guarantee rapid treatment and improve long -term care for affected people. By grouping together the latest recommendations based on evidence, these guidelines are an essential tool for reducing mortality and invalidities caused by the disease, an WHO statement said.
Despite the effectiveness of treatments and vaccines against certain forms of meningitis, this disease remains a major global health threat. Bacterial meningitis is the most dangerous form and can be fatal in 24 hours.
Many pathogens can cause meningitis, with around 2.5 million cases reported worldwide in 2019. Among them, 1.6 million cases of bacterial meningitis have resulted in around 240,000 deaths.
Almost 20 % of people with bacterial meningitis develop long -term complications, including handicaps that impact their quality of life. The disease also involves heavy financial and social costs for individuals, families and communities.
“Bacterial meningitis kills one in six people and leaves many other people with sustainable health problems,” said WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The implementation of these new guidelines will help save lives, improve long-term care for meningitis and strengthen health systems,” he added.
Meningitis can touch anyone, anywhere and at any age. However, the burden of morbidity remains particularly high in low or intermediate income countries and in large -scale epidemics contexts.
The highest morbidity burden is observed in a region of sub -Saharan Africa, often called the “meningitis belt”, which presents a high risk of recurring meningococcal meningitis epidemics.
The new guidelines provide recommendations for the clinical management of children over a month, adolescents and adults with acute meningitis acquired in the community.
They approach all aspects of clinical care, including diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, extra treatment, support care and long -term effect management. Given the similarities between clinical presentations, diagnostics and approaches to the management of different forms of acute community meningitis, these recommendations address both bacterial and viral causes.
These guidelines are intended for health professionals from primary and second level health establishments, in particular emergencies, hospital services and external consultations. Political decision -makers, health planners, university establishments and civil society organizations can also use them to guide their capacity, training and research strengthening efforts.
