Meningococcal Disease
Complications
Approximately 15% of people who contract meningococcal disease will die even after receiving treatment. Approximately 19% will suffer from long-term health problems such as brain damage and deafness.
Signs + Symptoms
Meningococcal disease comes in many forms just like pneumococcal disease does. Some of these forms include:
Meningococcal Meningitis
Symptoms can include:
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Confusion
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Fever
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Headache
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Nausea
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Sensitivity to light
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Stiff neck
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Vomiting
Meningococcal Septicemia
Symptoms can include:
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Chills
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Cold hands and feet
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Dark purple rash
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Diarrhea
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Fatigue
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Fever
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Severe pain
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Increased respiration rate
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Vomiting
Transmission
Meningococcal disease is spread between humans by sharing spit, this can be as simple as sharing a cup or coughing, although it is not as contagious as the flu.
If you know someone who has meningococcal disease and you spend a lot of time in close contact with them, you should be taking prophylactic antibiotics which simply means that they help to prevent you from contracting the disease.
Treatment
Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics. Depending which type of infection someone has or which symptoms arise, people may need different types of treatment such as breathing support or wound care.
Vaccine schedule
Children do not receive a vaccination for meningococcal disease but the CDC recommends that all preteens between the ages of 11 and 12 be vaccinated and received a booster shot at 16 to protect themselves from this potentially fatal disease.
Source: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention