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Frequently Asked Questions About Meningococcal Disease (Meningitis) |
Q: What is meningococcal disease?
A: Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream or meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord).
Q: Who gets meningococcal disease?
A: Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but is more common in infants and children. For some college students, such as freshman living in dormitories, there is an increased risk of meningococcal disease. Between 100 and 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur on college campuses every year in the United States; between five and 15 college students die each year as a result of infection. Currently, no data are available regarding whether children at overnight camps or residential schools are at the same increased risk for disease. However, these children can be in settings similar to college freshman living in dormitories. Other persons at increased risk include household contacts of a person known to have had this disease, and people traveling to parts of the world where meningitis is prevalent.
Q: How is the germ meningococcus spread?
A: The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person. Many people carry this particular germ in their noses and throat without any signs of illness, while others may develop serious symptoms.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: High fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck, and a rash are symptoms of meningococcal disease. Among people who develop meningococcal disease, ten to 15 percent die, in spite of treatment with antibiotics. Of those who live, permanent brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure, loss of arms or legs, or chronic nervous system problems can occur.
Q: How soon do the symptoms appear?
A: The symptoms may appear two to ten days after exposure, but usually within five days.
Q: What is the treatment for meningococcal disease?
A: Antibiotics, such as penicillin G or cefriaxone, can be used to treat people with meningococcal disease.
Q: Is there a vaccine to prevent meningococcal meningitis?
A: Yes, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The vaccine is eighty-five percent to one hundred percent effective in preventing four kinds of bacteria (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) that cause about seventy percent of the disease in the United States. The vaccine is safe, with mild and infrequent side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. After vaccination, immunity develops within seven to ten days remains effective for approximately three to five years. As with any vaccine against meningitis may not protect one hundred percent of all susceptible individuals.
Q: How do I get more information about meningococcal disease and vaccination?
A: Contact your family physician or your student health service. Additional information is also available on the Web sites of the New York State Department of Health at www.health.state.ny.us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/DBMD/DISEASEINFO/, and the American College Health Association at www.acha.org.
From the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Communicable Disease Control's Information for College Students and Parents of Children at Residential Schools and Overnight Camps.
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Contact
For additional information, please contact:
Health Services Center
Waldo Hall
Adelphi University
P.O. Box 701
Garden City, NY 11530-0701
p - 516.877.6000
f - 516.877.6008
This page last modified on January 10, 2008.
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