Question

A nurse is providing counseling to parents regarding an important action they can take to prevent their children from developing meningitis. Which of the following actions did the nurse suggest?

1) Have children sleep in separate beds during sleepover parties.
2) Have children receive all recommended immunizations.
3) Teach children to wash their hands after toileting and before eating.
4) Teach children to cover their faces with a tissue when they sneeze.

Answer 1

The nurse recommended that to prevent meningitis, children should receive all recommended immunizations, including the Hib vaccine for young children and the meningococcal vaccine for older children and adolescents.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse suggested that one important action parents can take to prevent their children from developing meningitis is to have children receive all recommended immunizations. This includes vaccines against pathogens like Haemophilus influenzae (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Vaccination schedules generally recommend that children receive the Hib vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with a final booster at 12 to 15 months. Furthermore, the meningococcal conjugate vaccine is suggested for older children and adolescents, ideally at 11 to 12 years of age with a booster at 16, or for first-year college students living in dormitories where the disease is more easily transmitted. Consequently, parents should ensure that their children are up-to-date with their vaccinations to protect against meningitis.