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Meningitis - pneumococcal

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Pneumococcal meningitis

Prevention:

Early treatment of pneumonia and ear infections caused by pneumococcus may decrease the risk of meningitis. There are also two effective vaccines on the market to prevent pneumococcus infection.

The current recommendations are for people at high risk for pneumonia, children, and everyone over the age of 55 to be vaccinated.

• Review Date: 8/15/2006
• Reviewed By: Hilary M. Babcock, M.D., Medical Director of Occupational Infection Control, Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals; Instructor of Medicine, Infectious Disease Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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