Meningococcal disease
3868809
209906037
2008-05-03T14:17:26Z
Davidruben
101637
add (a very crude) leadin rare than immediate discussion of just septicaemia
{{Citations missing|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox_Disease
| Name = {{PAGENAME}}
| Image = Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman Meningicoccal Disease.jpg
| Caption = [[Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman]], one of the youngest survivors of the disease. The infected arms had to be amputated later.
| DiseasesDB = 8847
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|A|39||a|30}}
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|036.9}}
| ICDO =
| OMIM =
| MedlinePlus = 000608
| MedlinePlus_mult= meningitis. {{MedlinePlus2|001349}} septicemia
| eMedicineSubj =
| eMedicineTopic =
| MeshID =
}}
'''Meningococcal disease''' describes infections caused by ''[[Neisseria meningitidis]]'' (also termed meningococcus) and carries a high mortality rate if untreated. Whilst best known as a cause of [[meningitis]], wide spread blood infection ([[septicemia]]) is more damaging and dangerous.
==Types of infection==
===Septicemia===
Meningococcal septicemia, like many [[gram-negative]] blood infections, can cause [[disseminated intravascular coagulation]] (DIC), a condition where blood starts to clot throughout the body, sometimes causing ischemic tissue damage. DIC also causes bleeding, when the clotting factors are used up, causing the characteristic purpuric rash.
===Meningitis===
Meningococcal meningitis is a consequence of bacteria entering the [[cerebrospinal fluid]] (CSF) and irritating the [[meninges]] - the membranes that line the brain and spinal cord.
==Prevention==
The most important form of prevention is a vaccine against ''Neisseria meningitidis''. Different countries have different strains of the bacteria and therefore use different vaccines. Five serogroups, A, B, C, Y and W135 are responsible for virtually all cases of the disease in humans. Vaccines are currently available against four of the five strains, and a vaccine against the B strain is in development. [[Menactra]] and [[Menomune]] are two commonly used vaccines. Unfortunately, there is currently no evidence that any of the current vaccines offer significant protection beyond three years.
Additionally, basic [[hygiene]] measures, such as handwashing and not sharing drinking cups, can reduce the incidence of infection by limiting exposure.
When a case is confirmed, all close contacts with the infected person can be offered [[antibiotics]] to reduce the likelihood of the infection spreading to other people.
==See also==
* [[Endocarditis]]
* [[Meningitis]]
* [[Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome]]
==External links==
* {{FPnotebook|NEU148}}
* {{DermAtlas|-1886809878}}
* [http://www.meningococcal.com.au www.meningococcal.com.au]
{{Bacterial diseases}}
[[Category:Bacterial diseases]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[es:Meningococcemia]]