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Meningitis (Meningococcal Disease)

Meningococcal disease is spread by direct contact with infected people by coughing, kissing, or sharing anything by mouth, like utensils or toothbrushes. It can cause pneumonia, blood stream infection, and meningitis (swelling of the covering of the brain and spinal cord). Severe disease can cause brain damage, hearing loss, or limb loss.

People exposed to the meningococcal bacteria may experience the following symptoms:

• Fever.
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Intense headache.
• Stiff neck.
• Unusual skin lesions.
• Fine, spotty pink rash that progresses to dark patches.
• Infections of the blood or brain, which can be fatal.

Even with treatment, about 10 percent of severe cases are fatal. Up to 25 percent of patients who recover have chronic damage to the nervous system.

Scientific Term

• Meningococcal Disease

Generic Term

• Meningitis

Age Groups at Risk

• All

Fact Sheets

• Off to College? Know the facts about meningococcal disease (PDF, 2MB) (Department of Health)
• Meningitis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Vaccine Information

• Meningococcal Vaccine (Department of Health)
  

• Meningococcal (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Information

Department of Health:

• Notifiable Conditions: Meningococcal Disease

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• Meningococcal Vaccination

National Meningitis Association

Last Update: 01/09/2012 10:58 AM