Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesRisk FactorsSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentVaccinationComplications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Vaccination
Complications
Meningococcal septicemia, also known as meningococcemia, occurs when the bacteria spread to your bloodstream, while meningococcal meningitis is when the bacteria infect the membranes surrounding yourbrainand spinal cord, known as the meninges, and cause swelling.
Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency, and the symptoms can progress from mild flu-like symptoms to death in just a matter of hours.Any sign or symptom of meningococcal disease should be evaluated and treated right away.
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There are six types—or serogroups—ofN. meningitidisbacteria that can lead to meningococcal disease, and the three most common in the United States are types B, C, and Y.
Can You Catch Meningococcal Disease From Someone Else?
While anyone can become ill with meningococcal disease, it is rare. Risk factors that may cause you to be more likely to become ill include:
The symptoms of meningococcal disease depend on which area of the body has been infected with the bacteria. They usually start out as flu-like symptoms and rapidly worsen in a matter of hours.
Meningococcal meningitis symptoms include:
Meningococcal septicemia symptoms include:
How Fatal Is Meningococcal Disease?Early symptoms of meningococcal disease are usually mild and resemble the flu. However, they can worsen quickly and even lead to death within 48 hours. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about one in 10 people who get meningococcal disease will die from it, and up to 20% of people who survive will experience serious, permanent complications.
How Fatal Is Meningococcal Disease?
Early symptoms of meningococcal disease are usually mild and resemble the flu. However, they can worsen quickly and even lead to death within 48 hours. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, about one in 10 people who get meningococcal disease will die from it, and up to 20% of people who survive will experience serious, permanent complications.
It’s crucial to quickly diagnose and treat meningococcal disease right away. If you suspect that you or a loved one has contracted meningitis, seek emergency treatment immediately.
If you have had recent close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with meningococcal disease, talk with your doctor about prophylaxis treatment. This involves taking an antibiotic medication as a preventative measure.
As soon as the medical team suspects meningococcal disease, treatment is started. The first step is admitting you to the hospital. From there, IVantibioticsare started.
The medical team will start with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Once your blood cultures come back and reveal the type of bacteria that’s causing your infection, they may change to a different antibiotic.
Further treatment for meningococcal disease depends on the type of disease and how advanced it is. Depending on how your body is responding to the infection, you may require:
What Is Meningitis?
Meningococcal disease cannot always be prevented, but vaccines are an effective way to greatly reduce your risk. The CDC recommends that all preteens and teens receivemeningococcal vaccination.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?If you have ever had a life-threatening reaction to a meningococcal vaccine or if you have a serious allergy to any of its ingredients, you should not receive the vaccine. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about if the vaccine is safe for you.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?
If you have ever had a life-threatening reaction to a meningococcal vaccine or if you have a serious allergy to any of its ingredients, you should not receive the vaccine. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor about if the vaccine is safe for you.
The MenACWY Vaccine
The MenACWY vaccines (Menveo and MenQuadfi) are recommended for all 11- and 12-year-olds, with a booster shot at age 16, and children 2 months and older if they:
This vaccine is also recommended for adults who meet the above the criteria and the following:
Possible side effects include:
The MenB Vaccine
The MenB vaccine (Bexsero and Trumenba) protects against type B. The CDC recommends that parents of preteens and teens talk with their pediatricians about whether this vaccine is necessary for their children.
The MenB vaccine is recommended for children and teens who:
It’s also recommended for adults who meet the above criteria and work as a microbiologist.
The MenABCWY Vaccine
The CDC recommends Penbraya as an option for those scheduled to receive a MenACWY vaccine and a MenB vaccine in the same visit. A second dose would then be given six months later.
The meningococcal vaccines are available at pediatrician’s offices, primary care physicians' offices, pharmacies, and public health departments.Most private insurance companies and statewide vaccine programs cover the cost. Call your insurance provider to find out if there will be a copay.
Because meningococcal disease is so serious, there are several possible complications. Complications can occur during the active infection time or during your recovery period.
It’s estimated that about one in five people who survive meningococcal disease will experience permanent complications.
Possible complications include:
Long-Term Effects of Meningitis
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Meningococcal disease is a serious, life-threatening condition that needs emergency treatment. Don’t hesitate to head to your local emergency department if you develop the symptoms.
Common signs of meningococcal septicemia include petechiae, fever, rash, and confusion. Symptoms of meningococcal meningitis usually include severe headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, and fever.
Once diagnosed with meningococcal disease, your medical team will admit you to the hospital for IV antibiotic therapy and other treatments as needed. Complications are common, and meningococcal disease can be deadly.
The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to stay up to date with your immunizations. Talk with your doctor about the two meningococcal vaccines.
10 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease causes and transmission.MedlinePlus.Meningococcal infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Meningococcal disease in adults.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease diagnosis and treatment.World Health Organization.Meningococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccines recommended for preteens, teens.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addendum – Child and Adolescent Recommended Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2023.American Academy of Pediatrics.Meningococcal disease: Information for teens and college students.Additional ReadingMbaeyi SA, Joseph SJ, Blain A, Wang X, Hariri S, MacNeil JR.Meningococcal Disease Among College-Aged Young Adults: 2014-2016.Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20182130. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2130Parikh SR, Campbell H, Bettinger JA, Harrison LH, Marshall HS, Martinon-Torres F, Safadi MA, Shao Z, Zhu B, von Gottberg A, Borrow R, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN.The everchanging epidemiology of meningococcal disease worldwide and the potential for prevention through vaccination.J Infect. 2020 Oct;81(4):483-498. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.05.079
10 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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease causes and transmission.MedlinePlus.Meningococcal infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Meningococcal disease in adults.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease diagnosis and treatment.World Health Organization.Meningococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccines recommended for preteens, teens.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addendum – Child and Adolescent Recommended Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2023.American Academy of Pediatrics.Meningococcal disease: Information for teens and college students.Additional ReadingMbaeyi SA, Joseph SJ, Blain A, Wang X, Hariri S, MacNeil JR.Meningococcal Disease Among College-Aged Young Adults: 2014-2016.Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20182130. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2130Parikh SR, Campbell H, Bettinger JA, Harrison LH, Marshall HS, Martinon-Torres F, Safadi MA, Shao Z, Zhu B, von Gottberg A, Borrow R, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN.The everchanging epidemiology of meningococcal disease worldwide and the potential for prevention through vaccination.J Infect. 2020 Oct;81(4):483-498. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.05.079
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease causes and transmission.MedlinePlus.Meningococcal infections.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease risk factors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Meningococcal disease in adults.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease diagnosis and treatment.World Health Organization.Meningococcal meningitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccines recommended for preteens, teens.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addendum – Child and Adolescent Recommended Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2023.American Academy of Pediatrics.Meningococcal disease: Information for teens and college students.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease causes and transmission.
MedlinePlus.Meningococcal infections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease risk factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.Meningococcal disease in adults.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal disease diagnosis and treatment.
World Health Organization.Meningococcal meningitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Meningococcal vaccines recommended for preteens, teens.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addendum – Child and Adolescent Recommended Immunization Schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2023.
American Academy of Pediatrics.Meningococcal disease: Information for teens and college students.
Mbaeyi SA, Joseph SJ, Blain A, Wang X, Hariri S, MacNeil JR.Meningococcal Disease Among College-Aged Young Adults: 2014-2016.Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20182130. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2130Parikh SR, Campbell H, Bettinger JA, Harrison LH, Marshall HS, Martinon-Torres F, Safadi MA, Shao Z, Zhu B, von Gottberg A, Borrow R, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN.The everchanging epidemiology of meningococcal disease worldwide and the potential for prevention through vaccination.J Infect. 2020 Oct;81(4):483-498. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.05.079
Mbaeyi SA, Joseph SJ, Blain A, Wang X, Hariri S, MacNeil JR.Meningococcal Disease Among College-Aged Young Adults: 2014-2016.Pediatrics. 2019 Jan;143(1):e20182130. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-2130
Parikh SR, Campbell H, Bettinger JA, Harrison LH, Marshall HS, Martinon-Torres F, Safadi MA, Shao Z, Zhu B, von Gottberg A, Borrow R, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN.The everchanging epidemiology of meningococcal disease worldwide and the potential for prevention through vaccination.J Infect. 2020 Oct;81(4):483-498. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2020.05.079
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