State of IllinoisIllinois Department of Public Health

What Parents and StudentsNeed to Know.

How can meningococcal disease beprevented?Risk of transmission of meningococcal infectioncan be reduced by practicing good hygiene.

• Cover noses and mouths when sneezingor coughing

• Discard used tissues promptly

• Wash hands thoroughly

• Avoid sharing cigarettes, straws, cups,glasses, toothbrushes, or eating utensils.Eating and drinking utensils can be usedby others only after they have been washed.

It is recommended that household contacts andothers who have had close personal contactwith infected persons receive a short course ofcertain antibiotics, which kill bacteria living inthroat secretions. Because the recommendationsfor use of preventive antibiotics vary accordingto the specific situation, it is best to consult aphysician or local health department for advice.Even if an antibiotic is taken, close contactsshould be observed and any sign of diseasepromptly evaluated by a physician.

Meningococcal vaccine is effective againsttypes of Neisseria meningitidis that arecovered by the vaccines such as serogroups A,C, W, Y, and B. Vaccines help protect againstmeningococcal disease and usually work well,but not all cases can be prevented.

In studies demonstrating the efficacy ofmeningococcal conjugate vaccines:

• Menactra® in preteens and teens:Between eight and nine people out ofevery 10 vaccinated had a protectiveimmune response one month aftercompleting the series

• Menactra® in adults: Between seven andnine people out of every 10 vaccinated hada protective immune response one monthafter completing the series

• Menveo® in preteens and teens: Betweenseven and nine people out of every 10vaccinated had a protective immuneresponse one month after completing theseries

• Menveo® in adults: Between seven andnine people out of every 10 vaccinated hada protective immune response one monthafter completing the series

In studies demonstrating the efficacy ofserogroup B meningococcal vaccines:

• Besexero® in preteens, teens, andyoung adults: Between six and ninepeople out of every 10 vaccinated had aprotective immune response one monthafter completing the series

• Trumenba® in preteens, teens, andyoung adults: Eight people out of every10 vaccinated had a protective immuneresponse one month after completing theseries

Additional Questions? Additional questions or concerns regardingmeningococcal disease or vaccination againstthe disease should be directed to your healthcare provider.

CDC recommends vaccination with ameningococcal conjugate vaccine for all preteensand teens at 11 to 12 years old, with a boosterdose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16through 23 years old) also may be vaccinated witha serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. All currentcollege and university students should receivemeningococcal vaccination in accordance withcurrent guidelines from the Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention Advisory Committee onImmunization Practices.

Printed by Authority of the State of Illinois

IOCI 18-661

MeningococcalDisease

What is meningococcal disease?Meningococcal disease is a bacterialinfection. It occurs commonly in two forms:

• inflammation of the membranes coveringthe brain and spinal cord (meningococcalmeningitis); and/or

• severe blood infection (meningococcemia).

The bacterium that causes meningococcaldisease, Neisseria meningitidis, first infects themucous membranes of the nose and throat,usually without any symptoms. In fact, five-tenpercent of the population may carry thebacteria at any given time without becomingill. In a small proportion of infected persons,the bacterium passes through the mucousmembrane and reaches the blood stream,causing meningococcal meningitis ormeningococcemia. When illness occurs, itdoes so within four days of exposure, but candevelop as long as 10 days later. The diseaseis most common during winter and spring.

How is meningococcal disease spread?Meningococcal infection is not highlycontagious. Transmission from person toperson occurs through direct contact withnose and throat secretions.

An infected person can transmit the disease by:

• Coughing or sneezing directly into theface of others.

• Kissing a person on the mouth.

• Sharing a glass or cup.

Because it is possible to harbor the bacteriain the nose and throat without developingsymptoms, healthy people, as well as peoplewho are ill, may spread the bacteria to others.The bacteria is not transmitted by casualcontact, such as sitting in the same room asan infected person or passing an infectedperson in a hallway or on a sidewalk.

What are the symptoms ofmeningococcal disease?Meningococcal disease usually starts with asudden onset of fever and headache. A stiffneck may be present and later a red rash maydevelop. Nausea and vomiting also can occur,but alone, are not sufficient to suggestmeningococcal disease. In newborns andsmall infants, the classic findings of fever,headache, and neck stiffness may be absentor difficult to detect. The infant may show onlyextreme listlessness, irritability, poor feedingand sometimes vomiting. In severe cases, asthe disease progresses, both infants and olderpatients may have seizures and decreasedalertness advancing to coma.

How is meningococcal diseasediagnosed? Meningococcal disease is very serious andcan be deadly in a matter of hours. Earlydiagnosis and treatment of the disease arevery important. Meningococcal disease canbe difficult to diagnose because the signs andsymptoms are often similar to less seriousillnesses. If a medical provider suspectssomeone has meningococcal disease, theywill collect samples of blood or cerebrospinalfluid (fluid that is near the spinal cord). Thesamples are then tested to determine if theillness is caused by an infection. If Neisseriameningitidis bacteria are in the samples,laboratorians can grow (culture) the bacteria.Growing the bacteria in the laboratory allowsdoctors to know the specific type of bacteriathat is causing the illness. Knowing this helpsdoctors decide which antibiotic will work best.Other tests can sometimes detect and identifythe bacteria if cultures do not.

Who is most susceptible tomeningococcal disease?Meningococcal disease is primarily a diseaseof young children. Infants, adolescents, andyoung adults have the highest rates ofmeningococcal disease in the United States(see figure 1). Adults at increased risk ofmeningococcal disease include those whohave recently been brought together as agroup and housed under crowded livingconditions, such as in barracks or institutions.College freshmen, particularly those living indormitories, are at modestly increased risk.Household contacts of cases are at thegreatest risk of developing meningococcaldisease. Most people are not susceptible tomeningococcal disease because they havehad prior exposure and have become immune.

Fewer than 10 percent of all meningococcaldisease cases are fatal. Death occurs moreoften in meningococcemia (as high as 17percent) than in meningococcal meningitis(approximately seven percent).

(Figure 1)

How is meningococcal disease treated?Cases of meningococcal disease requireimmediate medical treatment by a physician.Intravenous penicillin and other antibiotics areused to treat meningococcal disease, oncediagnosed.Meningococcal Disease