Meningococcal Meningitis
This disease is rare, but it can potentially take an otherwise-healthy child's life within 24 hours. It is important to know that this disease can be prevented - Dara Torres
image by: Meningitis Research Foundation
HWN Recommends
Is It the Flu or Meningococcal Meningitis? Don't Wait to Find Out
"Your child has meningococcal meningitis."
As a mom, these are words I cannot imagine hearing. This is a disease that can be mistaken for the flu but can potentially be much more dangerous. If you have watched the news in the past few months, you probably heard about outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in different cities and on university campuses.
This disease is rare, but it can potentially take an otherwise-healthy child's life within 24 hours. It is important to know that this disease can be prevented. So I am sure you are reading this and wondering why isn't it prevented?
Interestingly, a national survey, which was conducted this year, revealed…
Resources
Post Exposure Prophylaxis
prophylaxis needed for close contacts if <24h treatment with appropriate antibiotics: ciprofloxacin 500 mg (child younger than 5 years: 30 mg/kg up to 125 mg; child 5 to 12 years: 250 mg) orally, as a single dose, OR ceftriaxone 250 mg (child 1 month or older: 125 mg) IM, as a single dose (preferred option for pregnant women), OR rifampicin 600 mg (neonate: 5 mg/kg; child: 10 mg/kg up to 600 mg) orally, 12-hourly for 2 days. (NB. interacts significantly with many drugs (eg with the oral contraceptive pill) and is contraindicated in pregnancy and severe liver disease.)
What is meningococcal disease and what are the options for vaccination?
As a medical researcher and parent of two teenagers there is one bug, Neisseria meningitidis, that really scares me. This is mainly because of the speed and severity of the infection it causes, called meningococcal disease, and its predilection for infecting healthy adolescents and younger children. Meningococcal is a rare but very serious infection that can lead to blood poisoning (septicaemia) and/or brain infection (meningitis). The initial symptoms can be vague and non-specific.
Brave Child Survivors of Debilitating Disease Remind Us Why We Want to Fight for Kids Everywhere
Meningococcal disease is a sudden, aggressive illness that can lead to death within 24 hours of onset. Symptoms closely echo a serious cold or flu and may also include a stiff neck, sensitivity to light and most seriously a purple rash. Babies, toddlers and adolescents are most vulnerable, and unfortunately, many of those who do survive are often left with life-long complications such as brain damage, learning disabilities, hearing loss and amputation of limbs.
Killer Disease on Campus
Despite all the progress in intensive care and the introduction of new vaccines for all but one type of meningococcal disease, the scourge still strikes fear into whole communities. It's a killer that doesn't discriminate, and across the world, hundreds of thousands die from it each year, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. I only hope that in my lifetime, the investment in vaccine research pays off and that eventually no more children and parents will have to suffer the pain and anguish that I have witnessed so many times.
What Is Meningitis, Anyway?
The harm that can come from this infection is so great, it’s simply not worth the risk. We all need to get ourselves and our loved ones in to see our provider for vaccination against this truly horrible disease.
Why College Campuses Get Hit By Meningitis Outbreaks
Well, we know that adolescents and young adults are at higher risk for meningococcal disease overall. But meningitis occurs in all age groups and it occurs in all states in the U.S. So every day there's a case or two. Most cases are sporadic; they just happen individually and that's it. In fact, 98 percent of cases are sporadic.
Meningitis FAQ
Symptoms of meningococcal disease may range from high fever alone to high fever with a headache or stiff neck. Not every person with the disease has a stiff neck.
Is It the Flu or Meningococcal Meningitis? Don't Wait to Find Out
This disease is rare, but it can potentially take an otherwise-healthy child's life within 24 hours. It is important to know that this disease can be prevented. So I am sure you are reading this and wondering why isn't it prevented?
The 16 Vaccine
Some parents are aware of the first dose of the MenACWY vaccine at 11-12 years of age, but they don’t know the CDC recommends a second dose at age 16.
The Jamie Group
The mission of The J.A.M.I.E Group is to share knowledge about meningitis so that all can avoid this devastating but vaccine preventable disease. We are committed to lead the fight through education & community awareness & to advocate for increased information for students, parents, teachers & the medical profession. With your help, we can carry out this mission to secure stronger & healthier communities.
Meningitis Angels
Not just college freshmen living in dorms get meningitis. Please educate yourself, speak to your health care provider, follow ACIP recommendations for adolescents and get immunized.
Meningitis Now
Our vision is a future where no one in the UK loses their life to meningitis and everyone affected gets the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Meningitis Vaccine Project
The mission of the MVP is to eliminate meningitis as a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa through the development, testing, introduction, and widespread use of conjugate meningococcal vaccines.
The Amanda Young Foundation
The Amanda Young Foundation is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to reducing deaths in WA from meningococcal disease, and supporting survivors of the disease.
CDC
Meningococcus bacteria are spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions like spit (e.g., living in close quarters, kissing). Although it can be very serious, meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics that prevent severe illness and reduce the spread of infection from person to person.
MedlinePlus
Antibiotics should be started as soon as possible. Ceftriaxone is one of the most commonly used antibiotics for meningococcal meningitis. Penicillin in high doses is almost always effective, too. If the patient is allergic to penicillin, chloramphenicol may be used. Sometimes corticosteroids may be used, especially in children.
Patient
Meningococcal infection is uncommon, but it is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK. About 2,500 people in the UK have bacterial meningitis each year.
WHO
The bacteria are transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Close and prolonged contact – such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone, or living in close quarters (such as a dormitory, sharing eating or drinking utensils) with an infected person (a carrier) – facilitates the spread of the disease. The average incubation period is 4 days, but can range between 2 and 10 days.
StatPearls
Neisseria meningitides is the organism responsible for meningococcal meningitis and is the second most common causative organism for bacterial meningitis in the United States.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
