Meningococcal Infections

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors

Learn More

• Related Issues

See, Play and Learn

• Images

Research

• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Women
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Meningococci are a type of bacteria that cause serious infections. The most common infection is meningitis, which is an inflammation of the thin tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. Meningococci can also cause other problems, including a serious bloodstream infection called sepsis.

Meningococcal infections can spread from person to person. Risk factors include:

• Age - it is more common in infants, teens, and young adults
• Living in close quarters, such as in college dorms or military settings
• Certain medical conditions, such as not having a spleen
• Travel to areas where meningococcal disease is common

In its early stages, you may have flu-like symptoms and a stiff neck. But the disease can progress quickly and can be fatal. Early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important. Lab tests on your blood and cerebrospinal fluid can tell if you have it. Treatment is with antibiotics. Since the infection spreads from person to person, family members may also need to be treated.

A vaccine can prevent meningococcal infections.

Start Here

• Meningococcal Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Symptoms

• Meningococcal Disease: Signs and Symptoms (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bacteria Culture Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Meningococcal Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Meningococcal ACWY Vaccines - MenACWY and MPSV4: What You Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - PDF Also in Spanish
• Meningococcal Disease for Adults (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
• Meningococcal Disease: Prevention (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Safety Information for Meningococcal Vaccines (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Related Issues

• Meningitis Myths and Facts (National Foundation for Infectious Diseases)
• Meningococcal Disease: Causes and Transmission (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• Travelers' Health: Meningococcal Disease (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Images

• Meningococcal Photos (Immunization Action Coalition)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Meningococcal Infections (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Meningococcal Surveillance Australia Reporting period 1 July to 30 September 2022.
• Article: Differentiating vaccine reactions from invasive bacterial infections in young infants presenting...
• Article: The potential public health impact of adolescent 4CMenB vaccination on Neisseria...
• Meningococcal Infections -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

Children

• Meningococcal Vaccine (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation)
• Meningococcal Vaccines: What You Need to Know (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Teenagers

• Meningococcal Disease: Information for Teens and College Students (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish

Women

• Meningococcal Disease (Bacterial Meningitis) Vaccine and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Meningococcemia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish