HealthInfo Canterbury
Meningococcal disease
Important
Meningococcal disease can kill. Urgent treatment is essential.
If you think that you or your child has the symptoms listed below, seek urgent medical attention.
The following video shows a family talking about their experience with meningococcal disease and meningitis.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but very serious infection caused by a bacterium (germ). It can lead to severe blood poisoning (septicaemia), bacterial meningitis and pneumonia (lung infection). These can happen individually but they most commonly happen together.
The bacteria that causes meningococcal disease lives in the back of the throat in about 15% of healthy people. Most of the time it doesn’t cause any problems. But sometimes the bacteria passes into the blood stream causing meningococcal infection. Doctors don't know why some people get very ill and others don't.
The bacteria is spread in saliva droplets and secretions by coughing, sneezing and kissing. Sharing eating and drinking utensils can also spread the bacteria.
Symptoms of meningococcal infection
Meningococcal disease symptoms typically develop very quickly over a few hours, but in some cases may develop more slowly over several days. A person with meningococcal disease may only have some of the symptoms. The symptoms don't develop in any particular order.
Common symptoms of meningococcal disease include:
- a fever (high temperature), although their hands and feet may feel cold
- vomiting
- muscle and joint aches and pains.
Common symptoms of meningitis include:
- a headache, which may be severe
- a stiff neck
- sensitivity to bright light
- drowsiness and confusion (being hard to wake them).
A red or purple rash is common, but it doesn't always happen. One or two spots can appear anywhere on the body then many more appear looking like rash or bruises. If you firmly press a glass on the spots and they don't fade, call 111 for urgent medical help.
Common symptoms in babies include:
- irritability, especially when picked up
- dislike of bright lights – they'll shut their eyes and turn away from the light
- a fever, but they may not look hot and their skin may be pale or turn blue
- cold hands and feet
- being sleepy, floppy or hard to wake
- back arching
- high-pitched excessive crying
- poor feeding or not waking for feeds
- a bulging fontanelle (the soft spots on a baby's head).
Risk factors for meningococcal disease
Anyone can get meningococcal disease but it's more common in:
- babies and young children under 5 years, teenagers and young adults
- people living in overcrowded housing or shared accommodation, such as universities and boarding schools
- people with weakened immune systems.
Preventing meningococcal disease
The Ministry of Health funds free vaccinations for groups of people with a high risk of meningococcal disease. This includes young people aged 13 to 25 entering communal accommodation such as boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks and prisons. They also recommend but don't fund vaccinations for other groups of people. See Meningococcal disease (including meningitis) – Prevention for details.
Several meningococcal vaccines are available in New Zealand. You can pay for them privately through your GP.
If you've had recent close contact with someone with meningococcal disease, your doctor may recommend preventative antibiotics. Your local public health will usually contact you about this. But check with your GP if you're concerned.
Treating meningococcal disease
Injected high doses of antibiotics can treat meningococcal disease effectively. But the treatment must be started as soon as possible. It's very important to be aware of the symptoms and get urgent medical help immediately.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Ministry of Health – Meningococcal disease (including meningitis)
Extensive information about meningococcal disease, including who is most at risk. It also includes information about meningococcal disease vaccinations available in New Zealand.
- Patient.info – Meningococcal infection
Information about meningococcal infection, including symptoms, treatment and prevention.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by clinical director, Infectious Diseases, Canterbury DHB. Page created December 2018.
SourcesReview key: HIMGD-49770
