Meningococcal meningitis considered as a severe and serious infection that affect to the brain and spinal membrane called meninges. Expert classify the disease as bacterial meningitis which commonly caused by Neisseria meningiditis. Besides meningitis the bacteria can also cause septicemia, the blood poisoning.
This meningococcal meningitis may affect to anyone with any age. Babies, toddlers and young people are more prone to this disease. People who get the disease should treat intensively since the disease considered as life-threatening condition. Early diagnose of the disease lead to early treatment and this make the patient has great change to fully recover.
Untreated or late treatment can lead to permanent neurological damage such as mild learning difficulties, minor movement and coordination problems, and deafness. Meanwhile septicemia can lead to organ damage and shock even death.
The ways meningococcal meningitis transfered
The cause of this meningococcal meningitis, Neisseria meningiditis, only infect humans and they are transmitted person to person through indirect contact such as through throat or respiratory secretion droplets from someone who infected or prolonged direct contact such as living in same environment for long period, kissing or utensil and food sharing with someone who get the disease. It will need two to ten days as incubation period, which mean the meningitis symptoms start to develop average two to ten days after the exposure.
In human, the bacteria can be carried in the throat. Somehow the bacteria which infect the sufferer’s blood can overwhelm the immune system and make the infection spread to the brain and trigger bacterial meningitis symptoms.
Patients who gets meningococcal meningitis may experience several signs and symptoms such as headaches, hi-grade fever, photo sensitivity, confusion, vomiting, and stiff neck. Those meningococcal meningitis may not all appear in a time. Someone who feels at least two of the signs without knowing the reason should get a proper diagnose from health practitioner as soon as possible.