WHO issues first global guidelines for meningitis

SWITZERLAND—The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced its first-ever global guidelines for diagnosing, treating, and caring for meningitis, marking a significant step in combating this life-threatening disease.

These guidelines aim to enhance early detection, ensure timely medical intervention, and provide long-term support for affected individuals.

The guidelines, which integrate the latest evidence-based recommendations, serve as a critical resource for reducing fatalities and disabilities associated with meningitis.

Despite advances in vaccines and treatments, meningitis remains a global health challenge.

Bacterial meningitis, the most severe form of the disease, can lead to death within 24 hours if untreated.

 In 2019 alone, there were an estimated 2.5 million cases globally, including 1.6 million cases of bacterial meningitis that caused approximately 240,000 deaths.

Alarmingly, one in five survivors suffers from long-term complications such as hearing loss, cognitive impairments, or seizures, which significantly affect their quality of life.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the urgency of addressing bacterial meningitis, which kills one in six people it infects and leaves many others with lasting health challenges.

He noted that implementing these guidelines will not only save lives but also improve long-term care for survivors and strengthen health systems worldwide.

Meningitis can strike anyone at any age but disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The “meningitis belt” in sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable to recurrent epidemics of meningococcal meningitis.

Recognizing this disparity, WHO tailored the guidelines to suit resource-limited settings with the highest disease burden.

The guidelines cover all aspects of clinical care for acute community-acquired meningitis in children over one month old, adolescents, and adults.

They include recommendations on diagnosis methods like lumbar punctures and cerebrospinal fluid analysis; antibiotic therapy; supportive care; and management of long-term effects, such as rehabilitation for disabilities.

Both bacterial and viral causes are addressed due to their similarities in clinical presentation and treatment approaches.

Additionally, these guidelines align with the broader Defeating Meningitis by 2030 Global Roadmap, adopted by WHO Member States in 2020.

This roadmap sets ambitious goals: eliminating bacterial meningitis epidemics; reducing vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis cases by 50% and deaths by 70%; and improving post-meningitis care to enhance survivors’ quality of life.

Achieving these objectives requires coordinated efforts across five key areas: faster detection and optimal clinical management; prevention through vaccination and epidemic control; enhanced disease surveillance; better care for survivors; and increased advocacy to raise awareness about meningitis prevention and treatment rights.

By providing countries with these comprehensive guidelines, WHO aims to bridge gaps in meningitis care globally, ensuring that more people receive timely treatment and long-term support while working toward a world free of meningitis.

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