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Meningococcal disease


Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Key points to remember

  • meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection
  • it causes severe illness
  • babies and children with meningococcal disease can get sick very quickly
  • meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages
  • check babies or children often when they are sick
  • take your child to a doctor urgently if they appear very ill, especially if there is a rash
  • take your child back to your doctor urgently if they get worse
  • know about the early symptoms of meningococcal disease
  • know where to seek help after hours and how to get there
  • early treatment can save lives
  • your child can still get meningococcal disease, even if they have received the MeNZB™ vaccine

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What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection. It causes severe illnesses including:

  • meningitis (an infection of membranes that cover the brain)
  • septicaemia (a serious infection in the blood)
There are several different strains of bacteria which cause meningococcal disease. See the section below:

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How is meningococcal disease spread?

Meningococcal disease can easily be passed from one person to another.
 
The bacteria can be spread through close contact such as:
  • living in the same household
  • coughing and sneezing
  • kissing sharing food and drink

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Why do only some people exposed to meningococcal bacteria get sick?

At any one time, some people will carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without getting sick.
 
It is not known why some people who come into contact with meningococcal bacteria get sick and others don’t.
 

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Who is most at risk of catching meningococcal disease?

  • meningococcal disease can affect anyone, but those under 20 years of age are at greatest risk
  • rates of the disease among Maori and Pacific peoples are higher than for other ethnic groups
  • for all ethnic groups, the rate of disease has been particularly high among children under five years old - about half of all meningococcal disease cases have occurred in this age group
  • babies less than one year old have been most at risk, in particular Pacific and Maori babies
  • cases of meningococcal B disease have been decreasing since 2001 but it is important to remember that the disease has not entirely disappeared

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What are the signs and symptoms?

Symptoms may appear in any order and some may not appear at all. 
 
A baby or child who has meningococcal disease may:
  • have a fever
  • be crying or unsettled
  • refuse drinks or feeds
  • vomit
  • be sleepy, floppy or harder to wake
  • dislike bright lights
  • have a rash or spots (see photo at right but be aware that not all children with meningococcal disease have a rash)

Meningococcal rash

 
 
 
 
 
 

Meningococcal rash. See Acknowledgement for this photo.
 
An older child or adult may:
  • have a fever or a headache
  • have a stiff neck
  • have joint pain and aching muscles
  • vomit
  • be sleepy, confused, delirious or unconscious
  • dislike bright lights
  • have a rash or spots (see above photo but be aware that not
    all children / adults with meningococcal disease have a rash)
In the early stages of meningococcal disease, symptoms may seem similar to those of influenza or any other viral infection. The disease can progress very quickly and is difficult to diagnose.
 
Early treatment of meningococcal disease with antibiotics can save lives and reduce the effects of the disease.
 
Know about the early symptoms of meningococcal disease and take action if you are concerned.
 
Meningococcal disease for young adults
A Ministry of Health poster for teenagers and young adults (at right) list the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease and advises what actions to take. 
 
 
 
 

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Signs and symptoms in other languages

There are Ministry of Health posters listing the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease in the following languages: 

Meningococcal signs and symptoms in Cook Islands Maori
Meningococcal signs and symptoms in Maori
Meningococcal signs and symptoms in Niuean
Meningococcal signs and symptoms in Samoan
Meningococcal signs and symptoms in Tongan
 
 
 

 


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When should I seek help?

Don’t wait - take action
 
If your child has one or more of the symptoms of meningococcal disease:
  • ring a doctor or medical centre right away – whether it is night or day
  • say what the symptoms are
  • insist on immediate action – don’t be put off – a life may be at risk
  • watch your child, even if they have been cleared by a doctor. Ask your doctor what to look out for
  • go straight back to a doctor if your child gets worse
  • do not leave your child alone

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What treatments are available?

Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics. Early treatment of meningococcal disease with antibiotics is very important because it can save lives and reduce the effects of the disease.
 

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The New Zealand epidemic of meningococcal disease

There are several different strains of bacteria which cause meningococcal disease. 
 
The Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme was designed to help control an epidemic of a New Zealand-specific strain of meningococcal B disease. The Immunisation Programme began in 2004 for all under-20-year-olds (those at highest risk) and ended in 2006. Routine immunisation for babies and preschoolers continued until June 2008. The last phase of the programme, immunisation for people with a high medical risk, ended in March 2011.

The number of people developing meningococcal disease due to the epidemic strain of meningococcal B has significantly decreased - from over 300 cases in 2001 to less than 30 cases in 2010. As a result vaccination is no longer needed to control an epidemic. It is important to remember that even though there are now fewer cases, the disease has not entirely disappeared.

For more information, see the following at the Ministry of Health website:

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Can meningococcal disease be prevented?

The spread of meningococcal disease from person to person can be prevented once the disease has been identified and close contacts of that person are given antibiotics to clear the organism from their throat.


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Are there complications of meningococcal disease?

For every 100 people who get the disease, four will die. Another 20 are likely to be left with some degree of serious disability, such as brain damage, deafness, loss of limbs or damaged skin. A further proportion are left with learning or behavioural difficulties.
 
While New Zealand has had a high rate of meningococcal disease, it has had a low death rate compared to other countries. This is partly due to high awareness of the disease, to the importance of seeking urgent medical attention and to early treatment.
 

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What are the likely after-effects of meningococcal disease?

For information about recovering from meningococcal disease, see the article at the everybody website Meningitis – recovery . This discusses the after-effects people recovering from meningitis and meningococcal disease may face.
 

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Where to go for more information?

Immunisation Advisory Centre
For questions on immunisation, vaccination-preventable diseases or a specific vaccine, you can contact the Immunisation Advisory Centre.
Call free on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466863), weekdays 9am - 4.30 pm
Email: imac@auckland.ac.nz
Website: http://www.immune.org.nz/
 
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health website has information on meningococcal disease in New Zealand.
 

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Acknowledgements

This fact sheet has been produced by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand in collaboration with the Immunisation Team, Ministry of Health.
 
Images
Thank you to Nelson Marlborough District Health Board for supplying the "Meningococcal rash" photo. 
 

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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 02/05/2011

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz 		Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz