Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Also called meningococcemia, meningococcal septicaemia is a rare disease, but one you want to recognize quickly. Meningococcal septicaemia can cause death in a matter of hours. Early treatment can help prevent life-threatening or debilitating complications and lead to a full recovery.
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Bacteria can infect the lining of thebrainandspinal cord, which is called the meninges, and cause inflammation of those tissues. This happens in the case of meningococcal meningitis.
About one in 10 people haveNeisseria meningitidisbacteria in the back of their nose and throat without being ill.These people are known as carriers. Theycan spread the bacteria to others through spit or saliva, such as from kissing or coughing in close quarters. However, you can’t catch them through casual contact.
Risk Factors
Some people are more likely than others to develop dangerous infections from these bacteria. Factors that put you at risk of contracting a meningococcal disease include:
If you’re at higher risk of this dangerous infection, talk to your healthcare provider about getting a vaccine. If you have close contact with someone who has a meningococcal disease, you should receive antibiotics to avoid catching the disease. This is called prophylaxis.
Prevention of Meningitis
Symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia can come on suddenly and include:
People who have bothmeningitisand meningococcemia may have the above symptoms as well as headaches, confusion, and a stiff neck.
Seek emergency medical attention if you or anyone you know has these symptoms. Quick action can save their life and prevent serious complications.
Early on, and especially if the rash isn’t present, meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of many different illnesses.
Tell Your Healthcare Provider If You Have Been ExposedYou should immediately tell a healthcare professional if there’s been any possible exposure to bacterial meningitis or if you have any of the known risk factors. That may prompt them to test for it earlier than they otherwise might.
Tell Your Healthcare Provider If You Have Been Exposed
You should immediately tell a healthcare professional if there’s been any possible exposure to bacterial meningitis or if you have any of the known risk factors. That may prompt them to test for it earlier than they otherwise might.
Healthcare providers can confirm suspected bacterial meningococcal disease through laboratory testing of blood orcerebrospinal fluid(CSF), the fluid near the spinal cord. Testing the CSF requires alumbar puncture(spinal tap).
If the CSF is positive for bacteria that can cause meningococcal disease, the lab can then grow a culture to find out the specific type of bacteria that is causing the infection. This helps healthcare providers select the best antibiotics to treat it.
If your healthcare provider finds that you have meningococcal septicaemia, they will treat you with antibiotics right away. Antibiotics help reduce the risk of death.
Depending on how serious the infection is, people with meningococcal disease may need other treatments, including:
Emergency Treatment: Meningitis
Initial hospital treatment for bacterial meningitis typically includes:
Emergency Treatment: Septicaemia
Septicaemia can lead toshock, which means your blood isn’t circulating properly and your organs and tissues can’t function well. Shock can causelow blood pressure, so medications may be used to raise it. Breathing assistance from aventilatormay also be needed to keep enough oxygen in the body, which may mean going to an intensive care unit.
Between 10 to 15 in 100 people with meningococcal disease die despite treatment with antibiotics.
About 20% of people who survive meningococcal disease have long-term complications, which are more common in those with severe disease.
Complications may include:
Before the end of a hospital stay for meningococcal septicaemia, your healthcare provider should be able to tell you what to expect during recovery and the follow-up care you’ll need based on illness severity and complications.
Hearing testsmay be recommended, and your practitioner will likely watch for signs of complications that may develop later, including problems with nerves, bones, or senses, as well as psychological issues.
If no known risk factors were present when the disease was contracted, the healthcare provider may recommend testing forimmune system abnormalitiesthat may have allowed the bacteria to take hold.
A Word From Verywell
Meningococcal septicaemia is an awful disease that strikes fast and hits hard. Remembering the common symptoms of this disease can help put you on alert so you can get medical help right away if you do develop the illness. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent death and other serious complications, and lead to a full recovery.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen N, Ashong D.Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis infection)[Updated 2024 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Wang AY, Machicado JD, Khoury NT, Wootton SH, Salazar L, Hasburn R.Community-acquired meningitis in older adults: clinical features, etiology, and prognostic factors.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62(11):2064-2070. doi:10.1111/jgs.13110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Meningococcemia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease.Additional ReadingNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK).Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and management.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nguyen N, Ashong D.Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis infection)[Updated 2024 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Wang AY, Machicado JD, Khoury NT, Wootton SH, Salazar L, Hasburn R.Community-acquired meningitis in older adults: clinical features, etiology, and prognostic factors.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62(11):2064-2070. doi:10.1111/jgs.13110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Meningococcemia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease.Additional ReadingNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK).Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and management.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Nguyen N, Ashong D.Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis infection)[Updated 2024 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.Wang AY, Machicado JD, Khoury NT, Wootton SH, Salazar L, Hasburn R.Community-acquired meningitis in older adults: clinical features, etiology, and prognostic factors.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62(11):2064-2070. doi:10.1111/jgs.13110Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Meningococcemia.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease.
Nguyen N, Ashong D.Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis infection)[Updated 2024 Feb 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-.
Wang AY, Machicado JD, Khoury NT, Wootton SH, Salazar L, Hasburn R.Community-acquired meningitis in older adults: clinical features, etiology, and prognostic factors.J Am Geriatr Soc. 2014;62(11):2064-2070. doi:10.1111/jgs.13110
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Meningococcemia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK).Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s: recognition, diagnosis and management.
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