Neisseria meningitidis is a bacteria that can cause infections in the body. One area this bacteria can infect is the meninges. The meninges is the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial infection of the meninges, called bacterial meningitis, can cause death within hours. This bacteria can also cause infections in the blood.
The disease is usually spread by direct contact with discharge from the mouth or throat of an infected person (eg, kissing).
The disease is most common in:
About 1,200 people in the US develop the disease each year. Approximately 10%-15% of these people die. Another 11%-19% lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have nervous system problems, become intellectual disabled, or suffer seizures or strokes.
Symptoms of meningitis include:
Symptoms in newborn and infants can be hard to notice. These may include:
Treatment may include:
There are two meningococcal vaccines available in the US:
Both vaccines are made from parts of the meningococcal bacteria. They do not contain live bacteria.
The MCV4 vaccine is routinely given to children aged 11-12 years old with a booster dose given at age 16 years.
Three doses are given to teens (11-18 years old) who have HIV:
Teens who receive the vaccine late follow this schedule:
The following groups of people need to be vaccinated because they have an increased risk of meningitis:
Young children aged 9-23 months and others who have certain conditions need to be given two doses in order to be fully protected.
People who are at high risk will need a booster dose every five years.
The meningococcal vaccine, like all vaccines, has the potential to cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of the vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.
Mild problems associated with the vaccine include redness or pain at the injection site or a fever.
If you have the following conditions, you should not get the vaccine:
The vaccines may be given to pregnant women. However, the MCV4 vaccine has not been extensively studied in pregnant women. It should be used only if it is clearly needed.
Preventive antibiotics may be given to people in close contact with an infected person, such as:
Quitting smoking may also reduce the risk of meningococcal disease.
In the event of an outbreak, close contacts of infected people and people at increased risk should get the vaccine. Antibiotics may be recommended for people in close contact.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Immunization
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/
Vaccines & Immunizations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
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Meningitis questions and answers. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/index.html . Updated March 15, 2012. Accessed November 30, 2012.
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Meningococcal disease vaccine. Immunization Saves Lives website. Available at: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/menin/qandavax.asp . Accessed November 29, 2012.
Meningococcal vaccination. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/default.htm . Accessed November 30, 2012.
Meningococcal vaccines: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf . Updated October 14, 2011. Accessed November 29, 2012.
Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-6 years—United States, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov... . Published December 23, 2011. Accessed November 30, 2012.
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Vaccine information statement: meningococcal vaccines. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf . Updated October 14, 2011. Accessed November 30, 2012.
Vaccine information statements. Immunization Action Coalition website. Available at: http://www.immunize.org/vis/ . Accessed November 30, 2012.
1/31/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years—United States, 2008. MMWR . 2008;57;Q1-Q4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm . Updated January 10, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2008.
10/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for revaccination of persons at prolonged increased risk for meningococcal disease. MMWR . 2009;58(37):1042-1043. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5837a4.htm . Published September 25, 2009. Accessed October 2, 2009.
12/16/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for use of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) among children aged 9 through 23 months at increased risk for invasive meningococcal disease. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(40):1391-1392.
Last reviewed November 2012 by Brian Randall, MD
Last Updated: 11/26/2012
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