Meningococcal meningitis is cased by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It can be transmitted through direct contact including airborne droplets from nose and throat of infected persons.
Reservoir
Humans
Incubation period
3 to 4 days, but can vary from 2 to 10 days.
Signs and Symptoms
- Fever
- Intense headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Neck stiffness
- Petechial or purpuric rash on the trunk and limbs
- Can lead to sepsis, pneumonia and death.
Diagnosis
Clinical features & blood and CSF culture
Treatment
Prompt treatment with parenteral penicillin (prescribed by medical doctor) in adequate doses should begin when a presumptive clinical diagnosis is made prior to laboratory confirmation.
Control and Prevention
Rifampicin or Ciprofloxacin (prescribed by medical doctor) should be given as prophylaxis to:
- Eliminate carriage of meningococci in household members and other close contacts, thereby in turn reduce transmission to susceptible individuals who are not carriers.
- Prevent susceptible contacts from acquiring infection by directly inhibiting colonisation but it could only be effective for 2 days prophylaxis.
- Treat the newly acquired nasopharyngeal or blood borne infection in contacts who are non-immune and may be incubating the disease.