Meningococcal disease can kill in hours if left untreated
Meningococcal disease can kill in hours if left untreated
Meningococcal disease is a serious, sometimes fatal illness
• Up to 10% of people with meningococcal disease die, even with rapid treatment.
• It can affect anyone, but is more common in children under 5, and people aged 15-25.
• Symptoms usually present suddenly and can get worse very quickly.
• The characteristic rash does not always appear, or may appear late. Don’t wait for a rash. See symptoms? Act fast.
• Vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread and for more info link will be posted on discription.
What is meningococcal disease?
• Meningococcal disease is a serious illness that usually causes meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and/or septicaemia (blood poisoning). Rare forms of the disease include septic arthritis (joint infection), pneumonia (lung infection) and conjunctivitis (infection of the outer lining of the eye and eyelid).
• People with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell very quickly. Five to ten per cent of patients with meningococcal disease die, even despite rapid treatment.
• Historically winter and spring have been the peak seasons for meningococcal disease, however cases can occur year-round.
• Meningococcal disease is caused by infection with Neisseria meningitidis of which there are several serogroups. Disease is caused by serogroups A, B, C, W and Y. The meningococcal C vaccine has reduced the number of cases caused by that serogroup.
• Between 5 and 25 per cent of people carry meningococcal bacteria at the back of the nose and throat without showing any illness or symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
1. Symptoms of meningococcal disease are non-specific but may include:
• sudden onset of fever
• headache
• neck stiffness
• joint pain
• a rash of red-purple spots or bruises
• dislike of bright lights
• nausea and vomiting.
2. Young children may have less specific symptoms, these may include:
• irritability
• difficulty waking
• high-pitched crying
• refusal to eat.
3. Not all of the symptoms may be present at once.
4. The typical meningococcal rash doesn’t disappear with gentle pressure on the skin. Not all people with meningococcal disease get a rash or the rash may occur late in the disease.
5. Sometimes the classic symptoms may follow less specific symptoms including leg pain, cold hands and abnormal skin colour.
6. Meningococcal disease can sometimes follow on from other respiratory infections.
7.People who have symptoms of meningococcal disease should see a doctor urgently, especially if there is persistent fever, irritability, drowsiness or lethargy, a child is not feeding normally or symptoms have come on or worsened very quickly.
8. If you have already seen a doctor but symptoms continue to worsen, consult your doctor again or go to the Emergency Department.
Who is at risk?
Meningococcal disease can affect anyone, however there are certain groups that are at higher risk. These include:
• household contacts of patients with meningococcal disease
• infants, small children, adolescents and young adults
• people who smoke or are exposed to tobacco smoke
• people who practice intimate (deep mouth) kissing, especially with more than one partner
• people who have recently had a viral upper respiratory tract illness
• travellers to countries with high rates of meningococcal disease
• people with no working spleen or who have certain other rare medical conditions.
People who have had only minor exposure to someone with meningococcal disease have a very low risk of developing the disease.
Healthcare workers are not at increased risk unless they have been directly exposed to a case’s nasopharyngeal secretions (for example, if they performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or intubated the case without using a face mask).
How is it prevented?
Vaccination is the key prevention against meningococcal disease. There are two meningococcal vaccines available:
• Meningococcal ACWY (Men ACWY) vaccine which provides protection against serogroups A, C, W and Y.
• Meningococcal B (Men B) vaccine which protects against some strains of meningococcal serogroup B.
For further information please call your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
Current as at: Monday 8 August 2022
Contact page owner: Communicable Diseases ( link will be posted on description )
NSW Health info page :
https://web.facebook.com/NewSouthWalesHealth/photos/a.232420926957256/2058000284399302
NSW Health Meningococcal disease fact sheet info page :
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Meningococcal_disease.aspx
Australian Immunisation Handbook 10th Edition :
https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/
NSW Immunisation Schedule :
Click to access nsw-immunisation-schedule.pdf
Communicable Diseases :
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/Meningococcal_disease.aspx#
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