Meningococcal Disease: What you must know

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is also called cerebrospinal meningitis and is a highly contagious bacterial infection.² The disease is uncommon³ but once contracted, it can be life-threatening.¹ The onset of symptoms is sudden and the disease can progress very rapidly.¹ Even with antibiotic treatment, invasive meningococcal disease causes death in about five to 10 per cent of cases.³

The meningococcus bacteria are responsible for causing meningitis (infection of the membrane covering the spinal cord and the brain), and septicaemia (infection in the bloodstream).³

About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria at the back of their nose and throat without ever causing disease.³ However, in a small number of people, a dangerous strain of the bacteria can move through the lining of the throat, causing what is known as invasive meningococcal disease.³

Who are most at risk?

Meningococcal disease can appear in all age groups.³ The disease is most common in children and young adults between the ages of 15-24.³

It is not well understood why only a few people develop invasive illness, but this may be influenced by genetic, immune (e.g., preceding viral illness), societal (e.g., smoke exposure) or physical factors making them more susceptible to disease.¹

Symptoms

Symptoms of meningococcal disease may appear anytime between 2 to 10 days after exposure, but usually between 3 to 4 days.¹

The signs and symptoms may include the following:¹

• Sudden onset of high fever
• Intense headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stiffness and pain in the neck
• Rash of red-purple pinprick spots or large bruises

What are the causes of meningococcal disease and how does it spread?

Humans are the only carriers of meningococcal disease — it cannot be contracted from public swimming pools or water supplies.³

The disease is spread only through direct contact with secretions from an infected person’s nose, throat or mouth.¹

Keep in mind though that direct contact includes being exposed to respiratory droplets released from an infected person through coughing, sneezing and talking.¹

The infection could also pass to another person through kissing, sharing food or drinking from the same cup.¹

Treatment

Early diagnosis of meningococcal disease is extremely important¹. If this disease is not diagnosed and treated early, there is a high risk of death.¹

To diagnose the disease the doctor will require a blood and fluid sample from around the spinal cord.³ The samples are then sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of meningococcal bacteria.³

If infection is diagnosed early enough and the right antibiotics are given quickly, most people make a complete recovery.³ However, the disease progression is very rapid and admission to hospital is necessary.¹

In as many as 10-15% of survivors, there are persistent neurological defects, including hearing loss, speech disorders, loss of limbs, mental retardation and paralysis.²

Prevention

Direct contacts with infected persons are usually advised to take antibiotics for protection and to prevent further spread of infections.¹ Immediate family members and other persons sharing a household are considered at risk.¹

Vaccine is also available to prevent meningococcal disease.¹

Check with your doctor on how to protect against Meningococcal disease.

References:

1. Changi General Hospital; Meningococcal disease; available at www.cgh.com.sg/Health_Library/Health_Information/Pages/HealthLibraryDetails.aspx?DID=155 ; last viewed 29/05/2014
2. World Health Organization; Meningococcal disease; available at www.who.int/csr/disease/meningococcal/en/; last viewed 29/05/2014
3. Better Health Channel; Meningococcal disease; available at www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Meningococcal_disease ; last viewed 29/05/2014

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