what is
Meningococcal disease is the name for any infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis.
Guys
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis and blood infections.
In meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infects the lining of the brain and spinal cord and causes swelling.
In a meningococcal bloodstream infection, bacteria enter the blood and damage the walls of blood vessels. This causes bleeding in the skin and organs.
Symptoms
Symptoms are different for meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections. However, both are very serious and can be fatal.
Risk factors
Many factors affect a person’s risk of meningococcal disease, including age and certain medical conditions and medications.
Causes
NORTH. meningitidis They are bacteria that can live in the back of the nose and throat. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in their throat and are not sick.
Sometimes bacteria move to other parts of the body and cause infections.
Spread to others
People spread meningococcal bacteria to others by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or saliva).
Generally, it takes near or long contact to spread bacteria.
- Example of close contact: kisses
- Example of prolonged contact: living together
They are not as contagious as the germs that cause the common cold or flu.
Prevention
Vaccination
The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination for
- All tweens and teens
- Children and adults at increased risk of meningococcal disease
Talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease.
antibiotics
Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. Usually, a health care provider or health department decides who should receive preventive antibiotics.
Reinfection
Although rare, people can get meningococcal disease more than once. People who get meningococcal disease twice should be tested to see if they have an underlying immune deficiency (weakened immune system).
Tests and diagnosis
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are usually similar to those of other diseases.
Health care providers who suspect meningococcal disease will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). They then send the samples to a laboratory for analysis.
If there are bacteria in the samples, lab workers can culture (grow) them and analyze them. This helps doctors know what is causing the infection and which antibiotic will work best.
Sometimes other tests can detect and identify the bacteria if cultures do not.
Treatment and recovery
Doctors treat meningococcal disease with antibiotics. a patient get antibiotics right away if a healthcare provider thinks you have meningococcal disease. Antibiotics help reduce the risk of dying.
Depending on the severity of the infection, people with meningococcal disease may need other treatmentsincluding:
- Respiratory support
- Medications to treat low blood pressure.
- Surgery to remove dead tissue.
- Wound care on body parts with damaged skin.
