Topic: Meningococcal Disease
Description
Meningococcal disease is a severe but uncommon infection that occurs when meningococcal bacteria invade the body from the throat or nose.
Meningococcal bacteria are carried harmlessly at the back of the throat or in the nose in about 10% of the community at any given time. Although most people who have these bacteria in their throat or nose remain quite well, they are able to spread the bacteria to others, and a few of these people may subsequently become ill.
Meningococcal disease occurs in two main forms (or a combination of these two forms).
- meningococcal meningitis occurs when the bacteria infect the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
- meningococcal septicaemia occurs when the bacteria invade the bloodstream and cause blood poisoning.
Symptoms
The symptoms of meningococcal disease don’t appear in any particular order and may appear differently in different people. The typical symptoms of meningococcal disease shown in diagrams and are listed below:
In adults and older children:
- vomiting
- fever
- headache
- stiff neck
- dislike of bright lights
- drowsiness
- joint pain
- rash of red-purple spots or bruises
In babies
- fever, hands and feet may also feel cold
- refusing feeds or vomiting
- high pitched moaning cry or whimpering
- dislike of being handled, fretful
- rash of red-purple spots or bruises
- blank and staring expression
- bulging fontanelle
- difficult to wake, lethargic
- pale blotchy complexion
A recent study of children under 16 years of age in the United Kingdom has shown that leg pain, cold extremities, and abnormal skin colour, are frequently seen in the first 12 hours of meningococcal disease.
If anyone has any of these symptoms, they should seek urgent medical attention. Early treatment can sometimes prevent serious complications.
After exposure to the bacteria, it usually takes from two to four days to become ill, although sometimes it can be slightly longer.
Transmission
It is not easy to catch meningococcal disease. While the bacteria can be spread via droplets from the nose or throat during coughing and sneezing, close and prolonged contact with a person who has the bacteria in their nose or throat is usually needed for the bacteria to spread to others.
Sharing saliva through, for example, sharing cups, drinks or cigarettes is not considered to be a way of spreading the disease. As meningococcal bacteria cannot live long outside of the body, the infection cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, bed linen or pillows.
Treatment
A person with meningococcal disease usually needs to be admitted to hospital for appropriate care and treated with antibiotics.
Control
Close contacts of a person with meningococcal disease have an increased, although still quite low, risk of also developing the disease. As a precaution, public health authorities identify contacts to explain the nature of the disease, and if necessary, prescribe a short course of antibiotics to get rid of any meningococcal bacteria they may be carrying in their throat or nose. In general only household contacts and other close household-like contacts (such as sexual partners) require antibiotics.
Vaccination is also recommended for any recent household, household-like and sexual contacts of people infected with certain strains of meningococcal disease which are preventable through vaccination. When test results are available, public health authorities will contact such people and advise them to be vaccinated promptly by a general practitioner.
Because antibiotics and vaccination may not always prevent meningococcal disease, all contacts, regardless of whether or not they have been given antibiotics or vaccination, need to be alert for the symptoms of the disease, particularly during the first four weeks after contact with the person with meningococcal disease. If any symptoms of meningococcal disease develop in them or anyone close to them, it is important to seek urgent medical advice.
Anyone who has been in contact with a person with meningococcal disease is able to continue to attend child care, school or work, and all other activities should continue as normal. This is regardless of whether or not they have received antibiotics or vaccination.
Prevention
Smoking increases the chance of someone carrying the bacteria and spreading it to others. It is especially important not to smoke around young children who are particularly vulnerable to meningococcal disease.
Some types of meningococcal disease can be prevented with vaccination. There are a number of different strains of meningococcal bacteria. The main strains that cause meningococcal disease worldwide are A, B, C, W135 and Y. In Australia, B and C strains are responsible for the majority of cases of meningococcal disease.
In Australia there are two vaccines available that provide protection against meningococcal disease:
- a vaccine that provides protection against the C strain, and
- a vaccine that provides short term protection for A, C, W135 and Y strains for people over the age of 2 years.
There is no vaccine available in Australia for protection against the B strain.
Who should receive the meningococcal C vaccine?
Vaccination against meningococcal C strain is recommended for all children at 12 months of age as part of the Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule.
Vaccination with meningococcal C vaccine is available in Queensland for all children at 12 months of age.
Help and Assistance
For further information please contact your local doctor, community health centre, nearest population health unit or the 13HEALTH information line (13 432584).
Other Resources and Related Content
Queensland Health - A healthier you
Meningococcal Disease and immunisation fact sheet
References
Heymann, D., ed. 2004. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 18th edition. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association.
National Health and Medical Research Council, 2003. The Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th Ed.) Canberra: National Capital Printing.
Communicable Diseases Network Australia, 2001. Guidelines for the early clinical and public health management of meningococcal disease in Australia. Canberra: Department of Health and Ageing.
Last Updated: 12th October, 2009
Date Valid to: 30th June, 2010
