• Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, the lining surrounding the brain. It can have many causes but is predominantly caused by bacteria or viruses. Although more common, viral meningitis is generally less serious and of shorter duration than bacterial meningitis
• In the UK there are two main types of bacterial meningitis, pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis. The latter, meningococcal meningitis, can be further separated into various groups, of which Groups B and C are responsible for most cases of disease in the UK
• Meningococcal infection is spread between individuals by respiratory droplet transmission or through direct contact with respiratory secretions. There is an increased risk of infection in closed communities where transmission is enhanced due to close proximity. Examples of these include:
• College/Universities (especially Halls of Residence)
• Households
• Nurseries & Schools
• The symptoms of meningococcal meningitis may include fever, vomiting, severe headache, dislike of bright lights, stiff neck and lethargy. These symptoms do not appear in any particular order and some may not appear at all
• Meningococcal septicaemia is blood poisoning caused when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably. It presents as a characteristic non-blanching, haemorrhagic rash.

 

 

• Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia need immediate treatment with antibiotics.²
• People who have come into close contact with sufferers will also require antibiotics to reduce the risk of passing on bacteria to others²
• A vaccine against Groups A,C,W₁₃₅& Y is available for travellers to areas in the world where those strains occur and is protective for at least 3 years. However it is only effective in about 80% of people who receive it and is not fully effective in children under 18 months of age²
• The UK was the first country in the world to introduce a new vaccine for Group C disease which confers long lasting immunity for everyone over the age of 2 months
• The UK national immunisation programme, initiated in November 1999, is recommended for all children and adults up to 24yrs of age
• A Department of Health (DOH) press release in January 2001 showed a 90% reduction in the number of cases of meningitis C in both the under one year old and the 15-17 year old age groups, representing a major health benefit³
• The level of adverse events reported is similar to other immunisation programmes and, in context of the number of doses distributed (13.5 million by June 2000) is considered by the DOH to be very safe²
• A study published recently in the British Medical Journal has shown that the Meningitis C immunisation campaign was cost effective.⁴

 

The Meningitis Trust

24 Hour helpline 0845 6000800

http://www.meningitis-trust.org

Meningitis Research Foundation

24 Hour helpline 080 8800 3344

http://www.meningitis.org/

Meningitis Foundation of America

http://www.musa.org/

 

 

1. NMT factsheet; What is meningitis?
   
2. Message From Dr Pat Troop, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department Of Health. 13 June 2000 Cem/Cmo/2000/8
   
3. Press Release from Department of Health. Biggest Vaccination Drive for 40 years smashes Meningitis C disease. 3 January 2001.2001/0007
   
4. Trotter, CL., Edmunds, JW. Modelling cost effectiveness of meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccination campaign in England & Wales. British Medical Journal, Vol.324, 6 April 2002.