Just under half of all children who survive meningitis caused by group B Streptococcus will suffer in later years, new research has found.
Bacteria can quickly cause damage to the infant brain, even when they recieve good medical care. The disease was found to cause mental and physiological impairment varying from mild (25% of survivors) to severe (19%). Indications of impairment included blindness, hearing loss, academic underachievement and cerebral palsy.
Researchers hope that the findings will increase awareness of the disease and the need for pregnant women to vaccinate against it.
Read more at University of Michigan