Meningococcus can be very dangerous. For meningococcal infection to occur, contact with the patient's saliva is necessary. These bacteria are transmitted through contact with the saliva of the host or sick person, e.g. a kiss on the mouth, licking a pacifier. How else can you get infected with meningococcus? What are the symptoms of a meningococcal infection? What is the treatment? How can I prevent meningococcal infection?

Meningococcal infectioncan be very serious.Meningococcusare bacteria of the speciesNeisseria meningitidis, causing, among others severe invasive infections such as meningitis (ZOMR) and sepsis (sepsis), known as invasive meningococcal disease. Anyone can develop invasive meningococcal disease, but infants and young children (up to 5 years of age) and young people (15–24 years of age) are most at risk. In Poland, most cases of invasive meningococcal disease are cases caused by meningococcus groups B and C. There are also single cases caused by serogroups W135 and Y.

How can you get infected with meningococcus?

Meningococci live in the secretions of the nasopharynx. It is estimated that about 5-10 percent. he althy people are unknowingly their carriers. Meningococcal attacks are much more common in young children and adolescents because the immunity level of children is relatively low and adolescents are more prone to risky he alth behaviors. Increasing infections is noticed in the fall-winter and spring seasons. It is then that we tend to catch colds more often, which favors the spread of bacteria through droplets.

For meningococcal infection, you must be in contact with the secretions from the upper respiratory tract of the host or sick person. Thus, meningococci are transmitted both when a sick person or a carrier with a he althy one kisses, as well as by eating the same sandwich or using the same cutlery and plates.

Who is particularly at risk of meningococcal infection?

These bacteria primarily attack children aged 3 to 5, as well as adolescents between 14 and 19 years of age. School, group games and trips, and finally discos - all this favors infections and thus the spread of menigococcus. Among adults, the disease usually occurs in large communities, incl. inbarracks or dormitories.

According to an expertbow. Alicja Mażarska-Pazio - pediatrician and neonatologist at CM Damian

Meningococcus are dangerous

The youngest children are the most vulnerable - in the first two years of life, the incidence of IChM is the highest. The second age group in which an increase in the incidence is observed are teenagers. The risk of the disease in young children is related to the immaturity of their immune system. On the other hand, in adolescents, the risk increases with a socially active lifestyle - staying in large groups of people, e.g. at school, studies, concerts. Spread of the meningococcus occurs through droplets (contact with the patient's secretion, e.g. when coughing or sneezing), through direct contact (e.g. a kiss) or indirect contact with the sick person (e.g. sharing cutlery or dishes).

Source: www.zasz tendsiewiedza.pl

The first symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease are usually non-specific, similar to a cold, do not occur in any particular order, and some may not occur at all.

What are the first symptoms of a meningococcal infection?

The first symptoms are similar to the flu:

  • fever
  • irritability
  • vomiting
  • loss of appetite
  • sleepiness
  • increased thirst

Then they appear:

  • characteristic petechial rash

A characteristic, but not always present, symptom of developing invasive meningococcal disease is a petechial rash that does not fade under pressure (a so-called glass test may be performed by placing a glass over the rash and checking if it fades under pressure) .²

  • diarrhea
  • pallor
  • difficulty breathing
  • leg pain
  • decreased muscle tone
  • cold hands and feet
  • photophobia, unconsciousness
  • neck stiffness
  • convulsions
Important

If these symptoms worsen, that is, within a few hours, the patient's condition worsens, see a doctor immediately. Remember not to wait for more serious symptoms, such as stiff neck, petechiae on the skin or loss of consciousness. If they occur, it is usually an advanced stage of the disease. Meanwhile, in the case of meningococcal disease, every minute counts.

According to an expertbow. Alicja Mażarska-Pazio - pediatrician and neonatologist at CM Damian

Invasive meningococcal disease is characterized by a dynamic and unpredictable course. It can take the form of sepsis (sepsis), which is blood poisoningor meningitis. It also happens that it runs under both characters at the same time. The fact that the disease can develop extremely quickly - even within 24 hours, resulting in the death of previously completely he althy people - is luscious to the imagination.

If proper treatment is started too late, mortality can reach 70-80%. Even after successful treatment of invasive meningococcal disease, many patients risk permanent neurological complications, skin and tissue defects, or amputation of the limbs.

If the disease can attack at an express pace and carries such serious consequences, it becomes extremely important to recognize it early and start appropriate treatment immediately. So what are the first symptoms that could put us on the right track? Experts emphasize that, unfortunately, the symptoms are not characteristic and it is easy to confuse them with, for example, influenza (fever, headache or joint and muscle pain). It is worth noting that the symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease change during its development. The symptoms accompanying the disease may include vomiting, drowsiness, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing, decreased muscle tone, convulsions and pain in the limbs. The youngest children most often experience convulsions, loss of appetite or restlessness. A characteristic, but not always present, symptom is a petechial rash that does not fade under pressure. We can examine it by performing the so-called glass test, i.e. pressing the side of the glass against the changes on the skin. In the case of meningococcal infection, the spots will not fade under pressure.

Source: www.zasz tendsiewiedza.pl

How is meningococcal disease?

Meningococci lead to purulent meningitis or sepsis, the so-called sepsis. If diagnosed too late, the disease can lead to deafness, brain damage, epilepsy, amputation, and even death. Especially if sepsis is caused by meningococcus. The mortality rate of the most severe form of sepsis, the so-called fulminant sepsis can reach 50 percent.

What is the treatment of meningococcal infection?

Hospital treatment is necessary. After the disease is diagnosed quickly, high doses of antibiotics are given.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against meningococcus?

Yes. There are different types of vaccines on the Polish market that protect against one or four groups of meningococcus. Each vaccination is in the form of an injection. From the age of two months, a toddler can be vaccinated against meningococcal serogroups B and C. Older children, over 12-24 months of age, can be vaccinated against four meningococcal serogroups (A, C, W-135 and Y). Vaccinationsagainst meningococci are recommended for infants from the age of 2 months, because most cases of invasive meningococcal disease occur in the first year of life.

6 facts about meningococcal infection

Category:

Infectious diseases