Meningococcal Meningitis
Meningococcal Meningitis is the leading infectious cause of death in early childhood.
Septicaemia is also present in 80% of meningitis cases5 and meningococcal meningitis with septicaemia is know as ‘Meningococcal disease’ or ‘Meningococcal septicaemia’.
Meningococcal septicaemia is a notifiable disease6 - if a medical practitioner suspects the infection they must notify their local council or local health protection team.
The meningococcal bacteria
- Affects any age but babies and children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk
- There is a secondary peak of disease amongst teenagers
- At any one time up to 10% of the population carry the bacteria in their throat with no symptoms
- In 15-19 year olds the level of carriers increases to 25%7
The five main serogroups of the meningococcal bacteria that commonly cause disease in the UK are MenA, B,C,W and Y. MenB causes the majority of the disease in the UK4,8.
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia are both life-threatening diseases, but most people affected do recover. Septicaemia on its own is more likely to be fatal than meningitis .
Most survivors make a full recovery without long-term after effects but:
33.3
1/3rd will be left with problems such as psychological disorders, reduced IQ and partial hearing loss
10
1/10th will be left with a major disability such as limb loss, deafness, epilepsy and brain damage.