Infections with bacteria of the species NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS.

Meningococcal disease is the name for any illness that is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria (also called meningococcal bacteria). These illnesses are often severe and can sometimes be deadly. They include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and in the bloodstream (sepsis). Vaccines can help prevent the disease. Some people have Neisseria meningitidis, the bacteria that cause the disease, in the back of their nose and throat. They usually have the bacteria but don't get sick. This is called being a "carrier." But sometimes the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body and cause meningococcal disease. The bacteria can spread from person to person through saliva (spit). It usually happens through close or lengthy contact with a person who has it. Close contact can include things like kissing and coughing. You cannot catch the bacteria through casual contact with someone who has the disease. For example, you cannot get it by breathing air where that person has been. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but you are more likely to get it if someone you live with has it. You are also more likely to get it if you have direct contact with the saliva of someone who has it (like through kissing). Also, certain groups of people are more likely to get the disease. They include: Children younger than 1 year old.; Teens and young adults ages 16 through 23 years old.; Adults 65 years and older.; People with medical conditions that weaken their immune system, including those with HIV and certain rare immune system diseases.; People who either don't have a spleen or have a spleen that does not function well.; People who take complement inhibitor. These are immunotherapy medicines that are given to people with certain rare conditions.; People who live in crowded settings, such as college dorms or military barracks.; People who travel to areas where the disease is more common, such as certain parts of sub-Saharan Africa. There are different types of meningococcal disease. The most common types are meningitis and septicemia. Both types are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours. Meningococcal meningitis is a meningococcal infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The most common symptoms include: Fever; Headache; Stiff neck. It can also cause symptoms such as: Nausea and vomiting; Photophobia (your eyes being more sensitive to light); Confusion. It may be hard to notice these symptoms in newborns and babies. They can also have different symptoms. They may: Be slow or inactive; Be irritable; Vomit; Feed poorly; Have a bulging of the soft spot of their skull. Meningococcal septicemia is a meningococcal infection of the bloodstream. It's also called meningococcemia. When someone has this disease, the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply. This damages the walls of the blood vessels and causes bleeding into the skin and organs. The symptoms may include: Fever and chills; Fatigue; Vomiting; Cold hands and feet; Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly); Rapid breathing; Diarrhea; A dark purple rash (in the later stages of the disease). Because it is so serious, you need to seek immediate medical attention if you or your child develops the symptoms of meningococcal disease. The signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease are often similar to those of other illnesses. This can make it hard to diagnose. If your (or your child's) health care provider thinks that you or your child could have meningococcal disease, they will order tests that take samples of blood and/or...

Meningococci (Neisseria meningitidis) are gram-negative cocci that cause meningitis and meningococcemia. Symptoms, usually severe, include headache, nausea, vomiting, photophobia, lethargy, rash, multiple organ failure, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Diagnosis is clinical, confirmed by culture. Treatment is penicillin...

Meningococcal infections are caused by Neisseria meningitidis , a gram-negative diplococcus that colonizes the nasopharynx. Bacteria invade the bloodstream or spread within the respiratory tract. A confirmed case is a clinically compatible illness with isolation of N meningitidis from a normally sterile body site. Probable cases include...