INFORMATION ON MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Viral meningitis is generally less severe and resolves without specific treatment, while bacterial meningitis can be quite severe and may result in brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability. There are 3 main clinical forms of the disease: the meningeal syndrome, the septic form and pneumonia. The onset of symptoms is sudden and death can follow within hours.

SYNONYMS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Synonyms and related keywords:
1. Neisseria meningitidis.
2. Meningococcal disease.
3. Meningococcal infections.
4. Neisseria lactamica.
5. Bacterial meningitis.
6. Meningococcal septicemia.

CAUSES OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis are the leading causes of bacterial meningitis. Young children under 5 years of age, and young adults are at highest risk of acquiring meningococcal disease, and there is usually a seasonal increase in the winter to early spring months. The germ is spread in droplets that are shed from the nose or throat it is not, fortunately, easy to catch the disease. This is because the meningococcal germ does not survive for long outside the body. Close and prolonged contact with a carrier is usually required for the germ to spread to other people.

SYMPTOMS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Symptoms of Meningococcal disease are:

1. High fever.
2. Severe headache.
3. Nausea.
4. Vomiting.
5. Photophobia.
6. Stiff neck.
7. Pain on moving neck.
8. Alertness changes.
9. Lethargy.
10. Difficulty waking up.
11. Sleepiness.
12. Tiredness.
13. Confusion

DIAGNOSIS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Early diagnosis and treatment are very important. The diagnosis is usually made by growing bacteria from a sample of spinal fluid. Neisseria meningitidis can also be identified in blood cultures. Identification of the type of bacteria responsible is important for selection of correct antibiotics. Hospital treatment of meningococcal disease. Vaccines such as monovalent/multivalent, polysaccharide alone, or conjugate.

TREATMENT OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE

Bacterial meningitis can be treated with a number of effective antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in the course of the disease. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below the risk is higher among the elderly. There are vaccines available against some types of meningitis and septicaemia and the MenC vaccine.