What is meningococcal infection and how to protect yourself from it

What is meningococcal infection

Meningococcal disease is an acute, that is, rapidly developing, contagious disease caused by meningococci. It can manifest itself in different ways, some forms are dangerous to human life.

Most common outbreaks ariseMeningitis / WHO in the meningitis zone. These are 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia. But from time to time they happen all over the world. So, this summer there was an outbreak registeredCDC Assists with Meningococcal Disease Outbreak Investigation in Florida / CDC in Florida. At least 24 cases and six deaths have been reported.

Who are meningococci

meningococci, or Neisseria meningitidis, - These are gram-negative aerobic cocci, that is, rounded bacteria with a polysaccharide capsule protected from leukocytes (white blood cells - infection fighters). For their life neededMeningococcal Infection / MSD Manuals oxygen. They are dangerous to humans because they cause various diseases, including life-threatening ones.

Polysaccharide shell consistsMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation from large carbohydrate molecules with different structures, depending on which these bacteria are divided into serogroups: A, B, C, X, Y, Z, W-135, 29-E, K, H, L, I. Serogroups A, B, C can cause epidemics, while others, such as W135, X, and Y, are more likely to be isolated from the nasopharynx of asymptomatic carriers or cause disease in individuals.

How is meningococcal infection transmitted?

meningococci transmittedMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation only from person to person by airborne droplets.

Meningococcus enters the nasopharyngeal mucosa, where it usually dies due to local immunity. Sometimes it goes into an inactive form - this is how carriership is formed. And in 10-15% of cases, with a decrease in the body's resistance, nasopharyngitis occurs. Bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and other organs, including the meninges.

Basically, the infection is spread by carriers or patients with nasopharyngitis.

What diseases are caused by meningococci?

Meningococci cause localized (that is, one organ or system is affected) or generalized (the whole body suffers at once) infections.

Nasopharyngitis

This is the most benign, but rather rare form - 3-5% of all identified meningococcal infections. Manifested as SARS: runny nose, sore throat, fever.

Meningitis

meningococcus often causesMeningitis / Mayo Clinic inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It may start as a cold, but the following symptoms gradually appear:

• Rigidity, that is, tension or stiffness of the muscles of the back of the head and neck. You can find a stiff neck if you try to bring your chin to your chest while you're lying on your back, and you can't. Infants may have stiffness in the body.
• Unusually severe headache. In infants, a piercing constant crying speaks about it, which can intensify in the arms.
• nausea and vomit.
• Decreased concentration.
• Drowsiness, difficulty waking up.
• Photophobia.
• Lack of appetite and thirst.
• Skin rash.
• Protrusion of the fontanel in young children.

Meningococcemia

If meningococci enter the bloodstream, then sepsis begins - meningococcemia. It can accompany inflammation of the meninges, and can develop independently.

It is also a common form: the share of meningitis and meningococcemia account forMeningococcal Infection / MSD Manuals 90% of cases of meningococcal infection.

Meningococcal sepsis too startsMeningococcemia / Medscape with symptoms of a cold: cough, sore throat, fever. Further, the malaise grows: temperature jumps up to 40 degrees, there are severe pains in the muscles, joints and head, weakness, nausea and vomiting. Meningococcemia is characterized by a rash: first, pinkish spots appear on the body, and then bruises form under the skin.

In the most severe cases, a fulminant (fulminant) form of meningococcemia develops. Hemorrhages appear very quickly and often become huge, in the center of them there are areas of dead tissue. Due to their irregular shape calledMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation stellate rash.

If such spots appear on the earlobes, nose, phalanges of the fingers, and in infants even on the limbs, dry gangrene develops - parts of the body die due to lack of blood in the vessels.

If hemorrhages are visible on the shell of the eye, in the mouth and on the face, there are high chances of dying or remaining disabled.

Fulminant meningococcemia is also characterized by a rapid drop in pressure with loss of consciousness. The heart, kidneys and lungs cease to cope with their functions. Spontaneous bleeding begins in the stomach, adrenal glands, and from the nose.

Other forms of infection

Very rarely ariseMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation such forms:

• endocarditis - inflammation of the inner lining of the heart;
• arthritis - damage to the joints;
• pneumonia;
• iridocyclitis is an inflammation of the iris of the eye.

What is dangerous meningococcal infection

Even when treated with antibiotics for infection are dyingMeningococcal Disease / CDC about 10-15% of patients. Most often this going onMeningococcal disease / DermNet NZ due to multiple organ failure, DIC (pathology of blood coagulation, when at first in the vessels at the same time blood clots form, and then uncontrolled bleeding occurs) and adrenal insufficiency due to hemorrhage in them.

And 20% of survivors remainMeningococcal Disease / CDC disabled people. Most often this is due to:

• with gangrene of the fingers and limbs and subsequent amputation;
• deafness;
• neurological problems;
• brain damage.

Who is at risk

Get a meningococcal infection maybeMeningococcal Disease Fact Sheet / NY State Department of Health everyone, but for some groups the risk is higher:

• teenagers and young people;
• infants up to a year;
• those who live in crowded places, such as hostels or barracks;
• travelers, especially to the countries of the "meningitis belt";
• people with a congenital absence of the spleen or after surgery to remove it;
• sickle cell patients anemia;
• people with congenital hereditary deficiency of complement components (a complex of protective blood proteins);
• those who were in the zone of outbreak of meningococcal infection;
• those who work with meningococcus in laboratories.

What are the symptoms that should promptly call a doctor?

The faster doctors putMeningococcal disease / DermNet NZ diagnosis, the greater the chance of a favorable outcome. Meningococcemia kills faster than any other infections: it often takes only a few hours from the onset of the first symptoms to the death of the patient. Therefore, it is very important if you suspect it, immediately take the person to the hospital.

Need immediately callMeningococcal disease / Government of Australia. The Department of Health and Aged Care ambulance if you or your loved ones:

• star-shaped rash in the form of red or purple spots and bruises;
• heat;
• headache;
• stiffness of the muscles of the neck and neck;
• photophobia;
• nausea or vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• a feeling of intense weakness and soreness.

Other symptoms may include:

• loss of appetite or refusal to eat (especially in young children);
• irritability;
• confusion;
• drowsiness;
• lethargy and extreme fatigue;
• muscle pain;
• soreness and swelling of the joints;
• fainting;
• groans, wheezing, difficulty speaking;
• seizures or twitching (in children).

How is meningococcal infection diagnosed?

If meningitis is suspected appointMeningococcal Disease / CDC puncture of the cerebrospinal fluid to find the pathogen in it. Also carry outMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation blood tests (general, for meningococcus and antibodies) and urine, cultures are performed from the nasopharynx.

How is meningococcal infection treated?

Patients with meningitis or sepsis should be hospitalized as soon as possible to appointMeningococcal disease / DermNet NZ treatment. Usually these are antibacterial drugs (penicillins, cephalosporins and others, as well as chloramphenicol in the development of meningococcemia).

In addition, they are prescribed maintenance therapy:

• intravenous infusions of solutions to prevent organ damage;
• adrenaline and its derivatives to maintain pressure;
• transfusion of blood and its components - erythrocyte mass, platelets and plasma;
• oxygen and mechanical ventilation.

Identified carriers and patients with nasopharyngitis treatMeningococcal infection in children. Clinical guidelines / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation antibiotics at home.

How to protect yourself from meningococcal infection

Since 5-15% of children and young people areMeningococcal meningitis / WHO asymptomatic carriers of meningococcus, the only viable prevention option is vaccination. Vaccines protect against two (bivalent) or four (quadruple) strains.

To the Russian National vaccination calendar does not include vaccinations against meningococcal disease. But they there isRegional calendar of preventive vaccinations / Mosgorzdrav in Moscow and calendars of some other countries. This allows you to take root for free. For money, you can get a vaccine in many private centers.

For those who live with the sick appointMeningococcal disease / DermNet NZ antibacterial prophylaxis to prevent an outbreak.