First UK Meningitis B vaccine

Extract from Meningitis.org

“FAMILIES affected by meningitis are urging the Government to make a lifesaving new vaccine against Meningitis B – one of the deadliest forms of the disease – available to all children in the UK.

The vaccine, Bexsero, developed by pharmaceutical giant Novartis, received its marketing licence from the European Commission today.

It is the first Meningitis B vaccine to be licensed for use in the UK and will save thousands of lives, especially among children under five, who are most at risk from the disease.

Meningitis B is a major issue for the UK, which has one of the highest incidence rates in the world. It is the most common form of meningitis in the UK, affecting an average of 1,8702 people each year, many of them children. One in 103 people who contract the disease will die and one in four, will be left with life-changing after-effects, such as brain damage or limb loss.

Click here for the full article

 

Alkhalil M; Eid MA; Mahmood A; Babores M: BMJ Case Reports; 2010

This article “Unusual recurrence of small cell lung carcinoma” was published in BMJ Case Reports, 2010, vol./is. 2010/, 1757-790X (2010).  Apologies to our authors for late posting!

Author(s): Alkhalil M; Eid MA; Mahmood A; Babores M
Institution: Macclesfield General Hospital, Victoria Road, Macclesfield SK10 3BL, UK.
Language: English

Abstract: We report a case of malignant meningitis in a 63-year-old man with a background of treated small cell carcinoma. He presented with dizziness, vomiting and ataxia. His imaging investigations did not show any abnormalities, but lumbar puncture confirmed the diagnosis of malignant meningitis.
Country of Publication: England
Publication Type: Journal Article
Source: MEDLINE

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Eyes on Evidence: Meningitis

The Meningitis Trust NHS Evidence provides access to more than 300,000 reliable resources from 1,300 sources. The number of evidence providers we receive information from is increasing every month. Fact sheets from the Meningitis Trust are a recent addition to the search. The resources are primarily patient support information and cover a range of issues including developmental difficulties following meningitis, recovering after leaving hospital, entitlement to statutory benefits, and coping with bereavement. There are also fact sheets written specifically for child carers, teachers and pupils, employers, colleges and universities, and health professionals.  The Meningitis Trust was one of the first charities to become a certified member of The Information Standard.