Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial illness. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 through 18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.
About 1,000 - 2,600 people get meningococcal disease each year in the U.S. and 10-15 percent of these people die. Of those who survive, another 11-19 percent will lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have problems with their nervous systems, become mentally retarded, or suffer seizures or strokes.
Anyone can contract meningococcal disease, however it is most common in infants less than one year of age and in people with certain medical conditions such as the lack of a spleen. College freshmen who live in dormitories and teenagers 15-19 have an increased risk of getting meningococcal disease.
Although meningococcal infections can be treated with drugs such as penicillin, one out of every 10 people who get the disease will die or be afflicted with serious complications for life. This is why preventing the disease through the use of meningococcal vaccine is important.
