Meningococcal disease
meningococcal; disease; infection; meningococci; meningococcus; neisseria; meningitidis; meningitis; septicaemia; blood; poisoning; illness; rash; spots; red; purple; bruise; fever; headache; immunisation; immunise; immunize; immunization; vaccine; vaccination;
Contents
Meningococcal disease has received a lot of coverage in the Australian media. This is because it is a very serious illness that can affect healthy young people, children and older adults, and some die within a few hours of becoming unwell, even when they get fast treatment.
Meningococcal disease is actually quite rare, but the germs that cause it (called Neisseria meningitidis or sometimes meningococci) can be found in the nose and throat of up to 10% of the population, where they are almost always harmless.
In a very small number of people, for reasons that are not clear, the germs spread into the blood stream and cause very serious illnesses.
Meningococcal disease can affect all age groups, but it is most common in young people 15 to 24 years old, and young children under 5 years old. In South Australia in 2009, 22 people became ill with meningococcal disease.
For more information about
meningococcal infection
South Australian Department of Health - 'Meningococcal Infection'
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/ygw/meningococol-pehs-sahealth-2009.pdf
Further reading
Australian Immunisation Handbook 9th Edition, 2008
South Australian Department of Health - National Immunisation Program South Australia Schedule 2008
http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/Immunisation/2008-nat-sa-immunisation-schedule.pdf
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Youth Healthline on 1300 13 17 19 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).