About Meningococcal
Meningococcal disease is a potentially lethal bacterial infection of the brain, joints and bloodstream. While this and other bacterial and viral forms of meningitis have been around for decades, rates of meningococcal infection have increased steadily.
Meningococcal Questions and Answers
What is meningococcal infection?
Meningococcal or meningococcus is a very rare, yet potentially fatal bacterium or bug, which can invade the bloodstream causing septicaemia (blood poisoning), or it can also invade the lining of the brain causing meningitis. Or in some cases it can cause both.
What is meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning)?
The meningococcus bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, damaging the walls of the blood vessels and causing bleeding into the skin. Hence the purple rash.
What is meningococcal meningitis?
Meningococcal meningitis attacks the meninges, the lining of the brain
and spinal cord.
How is meningococcal spread?
Meningococcal disease is spread by secretions in the back of the nose and throat. Examples could be coughing and sneezing in close proximity to someone and possibly kissing. It is not thought that sharing drinks and food is a way of spreading the disease. Good hygiene is one way to help keep you and your family safe.
Smoking may also increase the risk of contraction meningococcal disease.
Who are carriers?
Meningococci live naturally in the upper part of the back of the throat (nasopharynx) in about 20 per cent of the population without causing illness. Although the number of carriers increases during outbreaks.
People who smoke are more likely to be carriers.
Is there a vaccine?
Vaccinations are available for groups A, C, Y and W135.
Some of these vaccines are only required if travelling overseas. The C group vaccine is offered as part of babies and children’s routine immunisation.
Vaccines do not protect against the more common B group or serogroup, people who have been vaccinated must still be alert for meningococcal disease.
How is meningococcal infection treated?
The meningococcus bacteria respond rapidly to treatment with an antibiotic, such as penicillin.
What are the symptoms?
Meningococcal Septicaemia symptoms may include:
- Vomiting or Nausea
- Fever
-Lethargy or drowsiness
- Irritable and/or confused
- Cold hand and/or feet
- Body aches and pains
- Rash (may develop in later stage)
Meningococcal Meningitis symptoms may include:
- Vomiting or Nausea
- Fever
-Lethargy or drowsiness
- Irritable and/or confused
- Headache
- Stiff and/or painful neck
- Dislike to lights
- Rash (only half of adults and children will develop a rash)
Young children and babies may have less specific symptoms. These may include irritability, difficulty walking or lethargy, refusal to eat and high pitched crying.
What can I do to help prevent the disease?
Immunising against ‘C’ strain can help prevention of meningococcal disease. But remember- just because you’ve had the immunisation doesn’t mean you can’t contract the disease in one form or another. Also being vigilant about hygiene and discouraging smoking in your friends and family.
Who is most at risk?
Children under 5 years of age because of their less-developed immune system and young adults between 15 and 24 years old due to their more social lifestyles. But people of any age can contract the disease.
