Meningococcemia

Meningococcemia

Meningococcal infection, defined?

The Meningococcal infection is a chronic infection which is caused by bacteria known as Neisseria meningitides.

Meningococcal infection through Neisseria meningitides bacteria will bring disease to the patients. The most common form of disease is meningitis and the rare case is Meningococcemia.

What is Meningococcemia?

The Meningococcemia is a clinical disease form of meningococcal infection which is caused by spread of the bacteria into the patient’s bloodstream that set off to cause severe signs and symptoms of the illness.

The most devastating form of meningococcemia is fulminant meningococcemia which consists of hemorrhagic rashes drop in blood pressure and circulating shock leading to death.

What are the most common signs and symptoms of Meningococcemia?

• There is fever
• There is stiff neck
• There is convulsion in some patients
• There is delirium
• There is an altered mental status
• There is vomiting
• There are presence cough, sore throat, other respiratory symptoms
• There is presence pinpoint rashes then become wider and appear like bruises starting on the legs and arms
• There are large map like bruise-like patches
• There are severe skin lesions may lead to gangrene
• There are unstable vital signs
• There may or may not have signs of meningitis such as: stiff neck, convulsion, delirium, altered mental status, vomiting)

How does meningococcal disease spread and transmitted individuals?

The meningococcal infection can be spread through direct contact with infected individuals. It is being transmitted through the bacteria from the discharges from the nose and throat of the patient. The meningococcal bacteria are extremely delicate outside of the body and are common, although these bacteria are not very contagious.

Coughing, and sneezing, kissing are the acts that are considered direct physical contact to the carrier that spread the bacteria from one person to another. There are also some indirect spreading agents that can spread bacteria through infected spit (saliva), food or drinks, cups, utensils and drinking straws.

People should not share anything that has been in or from their mouth. This is the clinical rule in general.

Smoking or even the exposure to cigarette smoke should be avoided because this would increases the risk of spread of meningococci or even with other bacteria.

Who are the people considered close contacts of a meningococcal disease?

Those people who have had direct contact with saliva or mucous from the nose or throat of an infected person are considered as close contacts.

• They are those people who live in the same house
• They are those people who have kissed the infected person
• They are those people who share a bed
• They are those children in the same childcare center or nursery because they
• They are those people who frequently put objects into their mouths
• They are those people who share drinks, cigarettes, food, drinks, water, glasses, cups, lipstick, musical instruments with mouthpieces, or anything else that has been in the mouth of the infected person.

What happens when people are already considered as close contacts?

• An antibiotic must be given immediately to close contacts with the case of meningococcal disease as their protection.
• Classmates or co-workers are considered close contacts only if they have had direct contact with secretions from the mouth or nose of the infected person.
• Some time those people who are close contacts of the infected person do not pose a risk to others individual. They may continue with their daily activities like going to work and attending school.
• The preventive treatments /medications are not required to siblings and other family members of close contacts.
• Classes, school-related or work- related activities, church activities must continue as scheduled in most cases.
• The public health officials may recommend that close contacts will receive antibiotics, vaccine, or both as preventive measures against additional cases of meningococcal disease but this is still depending on the circumstances.

What are the medications for meningococcemia and meningitis?

The meningococcal bacteria that have invaded the body can be treated and killed by Penicillin. There would be great chances of survival if the meningococcal infection will be recognized and treated.

What are the preventive measures for meningococcemia?

• We must always wash our hands with soap and water.
• We must always avoid close contact with meningococcemia infected people.
• We must always increase our resistance by having healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate rest and sleep, no alcohol and cigarette smoking.
• We must always maintain clean environment/surroundings
• We must not share utensils, cups, water bottles, lipstick, cigarettes and other liquid drinking bottles, dishes, glasses, cups, lipstick, mouthpieces of musical instruments, mouth guards, or anything else that has been in the mouth of the infected person
• We must always avoid crowded places