What is Meningococcal Disease?
Meningococcal disease, a form of bacterial meningitis, is a very serious infection of the brain and spinal cord. It can kill in a matter of hours. The good news?
There are two types of meningitis vaccines to help prevent it.
How Can You Prevent It?
Meningococcal Disease is a vaccine-preventable disease, but you need two types of meningitis vaccines to help prevent the disease.
Five types of meningococcal bacteria are responsible for most cases of meningococcal disease – ABCWY. That is why you need two vaccines to be fully vaccinated against meningococcal disease - the MenACWY and MenB vaccines.
The MenACWY vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for ages 11-12 with a booster dose at 16. The MenB vaccine is recommended for ages 16-23, preferably 16-18, with a second dose 1-6 months.
The Facts
Symptoms are severe and come
on fast.
It is more common among those
16-23.
It is easy to transmit through daily activities.
It’s deadly, or can cause permanent complications.
Scroll down to learn more about each of the facts.
Recognizing the symptoms could save your life.
Meningococcal disease symptoms often come on fast and are severe. If you think you or someone you know may have meningococcal disease, treat it like a 911 emergency. Early diagnosis often determines the prognosis.
Feeling poor
Stiff neck
Severe and persistent headache
Fever
Joint pain
Confusion (or other mental changes)
Nausea and vomiting
Sensitivity to light
Red or purple skin rash
Meningococcal disease does not discriminate based on age, gender, or location, but it is more common among those 16-23.
The incidence of Meningitis B is 5x higher among college students vs. non-college students. This is because of their lifestyle and living arrangements. The same can be said about army barracks, summer camps and other similar living situations.
It can be transmitted by doing things
you do every day.
Meningococcal disease is transmitted by respiratory and throat secretions. This means it can be transmitted by sharing drinks, eating utensils, cigarettes, kissing etc.
Meningococcal meningitis can be fatal or cause great harm. Death can occur in as little as a few hours.
Meningococcal Disease is a hideous disease that kills 10 percent of its victims. Of the survivors, 1 in 5 will have long-term or permanent disabilities, including amputations. Permanent disabilities include severe scarring or amputation of toes, fingers, or limbs, deafness, brain damage, and neurological problems.
Meningococcal disease is treated with antibiotics. Early diagnosis often determines the prognosis.
Ask your healthcare provider today if you’ve received both meningitis vaccines - MenACWY and MenB - and learn more at CDC.gov.
Sources
(1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Causes and Spread to Others. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/causes-transmission.html
(2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and Symptoms. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/symptoms.html
(3) National Center for Infectious Diseases. Meningococcal Infographic. http://www.nfid.org/idinfo/meningococcal/meningococcal-college-toolkit/meningococcal-infographic.pdf
(4) Gary S Marshall, Amanda F Dempsey, Amit Srivastava, Raul E Isturiz, US College Students Are at Increased Risk for Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease, Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. piz024
(5) World Health Organization. Meningococcal meningitis. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/meningococcal-meningitis
(6) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal Vaccination. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/vaccine-info.html