Meningitis and meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease usually occurs as meningitis or sepsis (blood poisoning).
Meningitis is infection of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. The less common form of the disease, bacterial meningitis, is always associated with severe illness and can be fatal. By contrast, viral meningitis, which can be caused by several different viruses, is more common but usually less severe. In the UK, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis is infection with the meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria menigitidis) although other bacteria, including those that cause pneumococcal disease and tuberculosis, can cause meningitis.
Meningitis can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
What is meningococcal disease?
In addition to causing meningitis, infection with Neisseria meningitidis bacteria can also cause meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning). Meningococcal disease is the collective name given to disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis infection. Disease may present as either meningococcal meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia or as both together.
Meningococcal bacteria are divided into distinct serogroups, according to their polysaccharide outer capsule. Most meningococcal disease in the UK is caused by serogroups B and C. However, the number of cases caused by serogroup C has significantly reduced in the UK since routine vaccination was introduced in 1999 in those age groups targeted for vaccination.
Urgent treatment with antibiotics and appropriate hospital management is essential for someone with meningococcal disease.
More information about meningitis, meningococcal disease and signs and symptoms can be found on the NHS 111 Wales website (external site).
Causes of meningitis
There are 12 known groups of meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis). Meningococcal disease is caused by several groups of meningococcal bacteria, the most common of which are groups A, B, C, W and Y.
Meningococcal group B (MenB) is responsible for about 9 in every 10 meningococcal infections in the UK.
Haemophilus influenzae type b is a bacterium that can cause severe infections, mainly in children under five years, but can affect any age. The organism is spread by respiratory droplets and has an incubation period of two to four days. Individuals can carry Hib bacteria in their nose and throat without showing signs of the disease. Complications from Hib infection include meningitis, epiglottitis and pneumonia.
Pneumococcal infection is caused by pneumococcal bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae) and can cause serious illnesses, such as sepsis and meningitis. Some individuals carry pneumococcal bacteria in the back of their nose and throat and can pass them around by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Usually, this doesn’t result in serious illness, but it can lead to pneumococcal infection, including pneumococcal meningitis.
If you would like to learn more about the vaccine, or the disease they protect against, a number of information resources are available to help.
You can also call NHS 111 or your GP practice for advice if you have any questions.
Data
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