Risk Factors
Certain people are at increased risk for meningococcal disease. Some risk factors include:
Age
Doctors more commonly diagnose meningococcal disease in infants, teens, and young adults. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for age groups at increased risk.
Doctors more commonly diagnose meningococcal disease in infants, teens, and young adults. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for age groups at increased risk.
Group settings
Infectious diseases tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Several college campuses have reported outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease in recent years. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for those at increased risk in group settings.
Infectious diseases tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Several college campuses have reported outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease in recent years. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for those at increased risk in group settings.
Certain medical conditions
Certain medical conditions and medications put people at increased risk of meningococcal disease. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for those at increased risk due to certain medical conditions.
Certain medical conditions and medications put people at increased risk of meningococcal disease. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for those at increased risk due to certain medical conditions.
Travel
Travelers to the meningitis belt in sub-Saharan Africa may be at risk for meningococcal disease. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for travelers.
Travelers to the meningitis belt in sub-Saharan Africa may be at risk for meningococcal disease. Learn more about vaccine recommendations for travelers.
Causes and Spread to Others
Causes
Bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis cause meningococcal disease. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of the
ir nose and throat without being ill. This is called being ‘a carrier’. Sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease.
There are six serogroups (types) of Neisseria meningitidis — A, B, C, W, X, and Y — that cause most disease worldwide. Three of these serogroups (B, C, and Y) cause most of the illness seen in the United States.
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| couple hugging mage credit: CDC /cdc.gov |
Spread to Others
People spread meningococcal bacteria to other people by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit). Generally, it takes close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact to spread these bacteria. Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu. People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing air where someone with meningococcal disease has been.
Sometimes the bacteria spread to people who have had close or lengthy contact with a patient with meningococcal disease. Those at increased risk of getting sick include:
People in the same household
Roommates
Anyone with direct contact with the patient’s oral secretions, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend
Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to help prevent them from getting the disease. Experts call this prophylaxis (pro-fuh-lak-sis). This does not mean that the contacts have the disease; it is to prevent it. Health departments investigate each case of meningococcal disease to identify all close contacts and make sure they receive prophylaxis.
Meningococcal Meningitis
Doctors call meningitis caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal meningitis. When someone has meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling.
Signs and Symptoms
Seek medical attention immediately if you or your child develops symptoms of meningococcal disease. Symptoms of meningococcal disease can first appear as a flu-like illness and rapidly worsen. The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and septicemia. Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours.
The most common symptoms include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Stiff neck
There are often additional symptoms, such as
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light)
- Altered mental status (confusion)
Newborns and babies may not have or it may be difficult to notice the classic symptoms listed above. Instead, babies may be slow or inactive, irritable, vomiting, feeding poorly, or have a bulging in the soft spot of the skull (anterior fontanelle). In young children, doctors may also look at the child’s reflexes for signs of meningitis.
If you or your child has any of these symptoms, call the doctor right away.
Meningococcal Septicemia (aka Meningococcemia)
Doctors call septicemia (a bloodstream infection) caused by Neisseria meningitidis meningococcal septicemia or meningococcemia. When someone has meningococcal septicemia, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding into the skin and organs.
If you or your child has any of these symptoms, call the doctor right away
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
- Rapid breathing
- Diarrhea
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash (see photos)
If you or your child has any of these symptoms, call the doctor right away.
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
- Rapid breathing
- Diarrhea
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash (see photos)
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
- Rapid breathing
- Diarrhea
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash (see photos)
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
- Rapid breathing
- Diarrhea
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash (see photos)
Symptoms may include:
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Vomiting
- Cold hands and feet
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly)
- Rapid breathing
- Diarrhea
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash (see photos)
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications
Meningococcal disease is very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important.
Dignosis
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are often similar to those of other illnesses. If a doctor suspects meningococcal disease, they will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). Doctors then send the samples to a laboratory for testing. If Neisseria meningitidis bacteria are in the samples, laboratorians can grow (culture) the bacteria. Growing the bacteria in the laboratory allows doctors to know the specific type of bacteria that is causing the infection. Knowing this helps doctors decide which antibiotic will work best. Other tests can sometimes detect and identify the bacteria if the cultures do not.
Lumbar puncture to collect sample of cerebrospinal fluid
See image at https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/diagnosis-treatment.html
1.credit/source: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/causes-transmission.html
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