Meningococcal infection factsheet

Introduction

Meningococcal infection is a life-threatening illness caused by meningococcal bacteria.

These bacteria live in the back of the nose and throat and can spread through fluids from:

coughing or sneezing
kissing
sharing cups, drink bottles or cutlery.

Meningococcal infection can cause:

meningitis – swelling around the brain and spinal cord
septicaemia – bacteria in the bloodstream that cause blood poisoning
sepsis – when the body harms itself while fighting infection.

Children have a higher risk of meningococcal infection if they:

are under 5 years old
are between 15 and 25 years old
have had a recent cold
are around a lot of tobacco smoke, especially in enclosed spaces.

Meningococcal infection is a medical emergency. If you think your child has it, go to the nearest emergency department or call 000 for an ambulance.

Signs and symptoms

A child's arm with a rash from meningococcal infection. Text: Purple rash on a child's arm.

Children with meningococcal infection usually become very sick, very quickly.

A red or purple spotty rash that doesn’t fade when pressed with a clear glass may appear, but not always. It might show up late or not at all.

Other symptoms can include:

Babies and young children might also have:

a bulging fontanelle – the soft spot on the head
a cry that sounds different.

Older children may be able to tell you about symptoms that they can feel, like:

severe headache
stiff neck
confusion
eye pain from light
pain when walking.

Not all children will have every symptom, and some may not have a rash.

Meningococcal infection is a medical emergency. If you think your child has it, go to the nearest emergency department or call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.

Diagnosis

Doctors at the hospital will check your child’s symptoms and may do tests, including a:

blood test
swab of the nose, throat, or any skin sores
lumbar puncture – when a sample of fluid is taken from around the spine.

Treatment

Children with meningococcal infection are treated in hospital.

They are given antibiotics through a vein using an intravenous (IV) cannula.

When treated early, most children recover fully without long-term problems.

Management

Long-term issues after meningococcal infection

Some children may have long-term problems after infection. These can include:

headaches
skin scarring
hearing loss
tinnitus - ringing in the ears
blurred or double vision
sore or stiff joints
organ damage
brain injury
learning difficulties.

Severe cases can reduce blood flow to parts of the body, causing gangrene.

Gangrene is when body tissue dies, turning a green-black colour.

Gangrene is a medical emergency that is treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove the affected body parts.

Meningococcal vaccine

Vaccination is the best way to reduce the risk of meningococcal infection.

There are five main types of meningococcal bacteria: A, B, C, W and Y.

Under the National Immunisation Program, children in Australia are given the ACWY vaccine at:

12 months old
between 14 and 16 years old
2 months old – for children with specific medical conditions.

The meningococcal B vaccine is not free for most people, but can be bought with a private prescription.

It is free for children who:

are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
have certain health conditions
live in South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Some private health insurance may help cover the cost. Ask your local doctor or health insurance company for more details.

Even if your child is vaccinated, they still need urgent medical care if they show symptoms.

Public health response to meningococcal infection

Around 10 – 30% of people carry the meningococcus bacteria without getting sick. These people are called carriers and will usually have no symptoms.

Vaccination is important because you cannot tell who is a carrier.

Meningococcal infection can spread quickly. If your child has a meningococcal infection and goes to hospital, the public health unit will:

arrange antibiotics for people in your household
ask where your child has been recently to check who else may need treatment.

This is called contact tracing and helps stop the spread of infection.

Meningococcal infection