Meningococcal Infections - Symptoms & Treatment

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection. It may be caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcus) which causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal septicaemia, also known as meningococcaemia, can be very severe and cause death after even a very crumbly illness. The patient usually is apparently sick, has a fever and may have marked joint or muscle pains; and there is often a rash. The rash may begin anywhere on the body as tiny red or purple spots but they soon spread and upsurge to look like fresh bruises; the rash does not fade when pressure is applied to it, eg. with the thumb. Meningococcal infections may occur intermittently or in epidemics; virulent infections may be cataclysmal within a matter of hours. Meningococcal is also called as Meningococcal Bacteremia, Bacterial in the Blood, Meningococcal Blood Poisoning, and Meningococcal Septicemia.

Meningococcal disease is a ascetic infection which occurs when the meningococcal germ 'invades' the body from the throat or nose. It does not occur in people who carry the germ but rather occurs in people who have very just (typically within the previous 7 days) acquired the germ from a healthy 'carrier'. Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency and patients flaunting signs and symptoms suspicious of meningococcal infection need to seek medical advice from their doctor or a hospital immediately.

Symptoms of Meningococcal Infections

Some common Symptoms of Meningococcal Infections :

• Nausea.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Stiff neck and back
• Severe headache.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Severe malaise
• Painful joints
• Vomiting.
• High fever.
• Confusion.

Treatment of Meningococcal Infections

• Antibiotics such as ceftriaxone are adviced and given intravenously for this disease. Other medicines may be used to treat the complications emerging from the increased spinal fluid pressure.
• Respiratory isolation for first 24 hours, to avoid spread to other patients
• Patients are often admitted to the intensive care unit of the hospital. Intensive monitoring and treatment are needed.
• Sometimes steroid medication is used, more often in children than adults.
• High doses of corticosteroids may be given for shock (must be given early).