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TwitThisMeningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes meningitis, a swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or meningococcal sepsis (also called meningococcemia) a poisoning of the blood that leads to deadly blood clots and can shut down vital organs.The reason why this particular bacterium is so dangerous is because it produces more endotoxin (poisonous coating) more quickly than other bacteria of the same sort.
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Those at Risk
Adolescents and young adults have an increased incidence of meningococcal disease compared to the general population, accounting for 20 percent of all U.S. cases annually, and one study suggests the rate may be as high as 30 percent. Because the bacteria are highly contagious, college dormitories, day care centers, schools and other environments where people live in close quarters are common sites of outbreaks.
Up to 2,800 cases are reported every year in the U.S. Between 10 and 14 percent of them are fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among those who survive, approximately 20 percent suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss and limb amputations.
Rapid Onset of Symptoms
Meningococcal disease is characterized by a rapid onset that is often misdiagnosed. The earliest symptoms resemble those of the flu: fever, headache and stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and altered mental status. Symptoms of the meningococcemia form of meningococcal disease often include a purple rash, hypotension, DIC and multi-organ failure; it is less likely to include headache and stiff neck. Soon after the disease has taken hold, a telltale purplish rash may appear.
Prevention is the Best Treatment
When misdiagnosed or left untreated, it’s not unusual for a perfectly healthy person to be dead within 24 to 48 hours after contacting the disease. However, when antibiotics are started quickly, the chances of successful treatment are greatly enhanced.
Vaccines can prevent meningococcal disease caused by the most common strains of bacteria. In fact, up to 75 percent of cases among people age 11 and older are considered vaccine-preventable. Although widely covered by insurance, if the vaccination is not covered, the cost of the new meningococcal vaccine, Menactra, is only about $100, the price of a pair of brand-name sneakers.
The same month that Michael LaForgia contracted meningococcal disease, January, 2005, the FDA licensed a new conjugate vaccine, Menactra, for use among people ages 11 to 55.
The new vaccine prevents four of the five bacterial strains: A, C, Y and W-135, which account for about 70 percent of all new cases. It is preferred over the older polysaccharide vaccine, Menomune, because it offers longer-lasting protection and may also reduce the incidence of people carrying the bacteria, helping prevent its spread.
In June 2007, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the CDC simplified its recommendation, recommending immunization for all adolescents between the ages of 11 and 18. In October, the FDA approved the use of the Menactra vaccine for children from two to ten years old.
For More Information:
National Meningitis Association
nmaus.org
1-866-FONE-NMA
Meningitis Foundation of America
musa.org
1-800-668-1129
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