Meningitis - Prevention

There are no specific recommendations for avoiding meningitis. People should try to avoid developing any kind of infection that might spread to the meninges, especially those of the ear and sinus.

Some preventive treatments are available for specific types of meningitis. For example, there is a vaccine for individuals who have to be in areas where contagious meningitis exists. These individuals may also take antibiotics to protect them from infection by the bacterium that causes this form of the disease. A vaccine is available for one of the forms of meningitis that occurs in young children.