Meningococcal Infection - Definition, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Meningococcal Definition

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection. It may be caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcus) that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease manifests most commonly as meningitis and meningococcemia that may progress rapidly to purpura fulminans, shock, and death. However, other manifestations might be observed.

Meningococcal infections may occur sporadically or in epidemics; virulent infections may be fatal within a matter of hours.Meningococcal is also called as Meningococcal Bacteremia, Bacterial in the Blood, Meningococcal Blood Poisoning, and Meningococcal Septicemia.

Meningococcal Causes

Most cases of meningococcal meningitis occur in children, from infancy to adolescence. Meningococcus is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children and the second most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults. Neisseria meningitidis has at least seven serogroups (A, B, C, D, X, Y, Z); group A causes most epidemics. Neisseria meningitidis frequently lives in the upper respiratory tract with no evidence of illness. The leading cause of bacterial meningitis is the ill-named bacterium Haemophilus influenzae b, originally thought to be an influenza virus.

Meningococcal can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other organisms, usually introduced via the bloodstream from infections elsewhere in the body. Family members and those closely exposed to an infected individual are at increased risk. The infection occurs more frequently in winter and early spring. It is transmitted from person-to-person by respiratory droplets.

Meningococcal Symptorms

Clinical features of meningococcal infection vary. The symptoms of meningococcal bacteremia include a sudden, spiking fever. In 10% to 20% of patients, this progresses to fulminant meningococcemia, with extreme prostration, enlargement of skin lesions, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and shock.

The other symptoms of the meningococcal may be included:

• Rash
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Irritability
• Stiff neck
• Anxious appearing
• Pinpoint red spots
• Severe headache
• Severe malaise
• Sensitivity to light
• Mental status changes

Meningococcal Treatments

Patients are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital. Intensive monitoring and treatment are needed.

Respiratory isolation for first 24 hours, to avoid spread to other patients

High doses of corticosteroids may be given for shock (must be given early).

Antibiotics such as ceftriaxone are prescribed and given intravenously for this disease. Other medicines may be used to treat the complications arising from the increased spinal fluid pressure.

Sometimes steroid medication is used, more often in children than adults.