What is meningococcal meningitis?
Meningococcal meningitis is a severe bacterial infection of the meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) caused by the bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcemia is the term for infections involving the bloodstream. The infection can also occur as pneumonia (an infection of the lungs) or in joints, such as the knees. In 2003, there were 43 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported among New York City residents (rate of 0.5 cases per 100,000 persons).
Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord1. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus. What are the symptoms? Symptoms include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting, and lethargy. The infection can lead to permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss and brain damage2. Despite antibiotic treatment, 10% of people with meningococcal meningitis die each year from the disease3. What is meningococcemia? Sometimes the meningococcal bacteria can infect the bloodstream. This infection is termed meningococcemia. It can lead to kidney and heart failure, and like meningococcal meningitis, can result in severe disability and death.4 How is the disease spread? The infection is spread by direct contact with infected individuals (for example, sharing a glass or cigarette, or kissing) or through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions (for example,
Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but sometimes fatal disease that often strikes pre-adolescents, adolescents and young adults. The disease strikes quickly and has devastating complications, including hearing loss, brain damage, limb amputations and in some cases death. Who is at risk for meningococcal meningitis? Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk for contracting meningococcal meningitis. In fact, adolescents and young adults account for nearly 30 percent of all cases of reported meningococcal infection in the U.S., and case fatality rates are up to five times higher among 15- to 24-year-olds compared with other age groups. Up to 83 percent of meningococcal disease cases among adolescents are potentially vaccine-preventable. Why are adolescents and young adults at risk for meningococcal meningitis? Lifestyle factors common among adolescents and young adults seem to be linked to meningococcal meningitis. These include: ยท Crowded living situations, such as dormitories,
