Meningitis and meningococcal disease

Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening infection. It is a term used to describe two serious illnesses: meningitis and septicaemia.

Meningitis is a very serious infection which causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.  

Septicaemia is blood poisoning.

These illnesses can:  

• come on suddenly  
• progress very quickly  
• kill in hours, and  
• leave survivors with lifelong disabilities. 

Meningitis can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It can cause life-threatening septicaemia and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves. Meningitis can lead to deafness, blindness, epilepsy (fits), learning difficulties and sometimes death.

There are 12 known groups of meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis). Meningococcal group B (MenB) is responsible for about 9 in every 10 meningococcal infections in the UK.  

Meningococcal disease is caused by several groups of meningococcal bacteria, the most common of which in the UK are groups B, C, W and Y. 

Who is at risk?

Everybody is at risk from meningococcal disease, but: 

• those aged under 5 are most at risk; and 
• teenagers and young adults are the second most at risk group. 

It is important to protect children because meningitis and sepsis can:  

• come on suddenly  
• progress very quickly  
• kill in hours, and  
• leave survivors with serious health problems or lifelong disabilities. These include damage to the brain or nerves, as well as deafness, blindness or epilepsy (fits).  

Meningococcal disease is most common in babies under one year old. This is why babies are offered the MenB vaccine. It becomes less common as children get older. However, there is also a smaller second peak in cases among teenagers aged 15 to 19 years.   

Young children’s immune systems are not yet fully developed to fight off infection. But meningococcal disease can happen at any age, so it is important to know the signs and symptoms of the disease. 

Protection from meningitis and sepsis caused by meningococcal group B bacteria is important. This can be done by making sure that:  

• babies get their MenB vaccinations when they are offered 
• teenagers get their MenACWY vaccination in school 

How do MenB bacteria cause serious illness?  

MenB bacteria can live in our noses or throats without causing any problems at all. The bacteria can pass from person to person through close contact. For example, people living in the same household can spread MenB bacteria to other people through coughing or sneezing.

In some people and under certain conditions, the bacteria can become dangerous. They can move from the throat into the blood and spread around the body. This can cause meningitis or sepsis, which are very serious illnesses.

Meningitis

Meningitis is infection of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi. The less common form of the disease, bacterial meningitis, is always associated with severe illness and can be fatal. By contrast, viral meningitis, which can be caused by several different viruses, is more common but usually less severe.

In the UK, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis is infection with the meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria menigitidis) although other bacteria, including those that cause pneumococcal disease and tuberculosis, can cause meningitis.

The meningitis glass test  

A typical meningitis rash does not fade when you press it. To check for it, press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin. Not everyone gets this rash. It usually starts as small spots but quickly becomes deep purple patches. 

• Press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin.   
• Spots or a rash (or both) may fade at first.   
• Keep checking.   
• Fever with spots or a rash (or both) that do not fade under pressure is a medical emergency.   
• If your child is ill and getting worse, get medical help immediately.   
• On dark skin, the spots or rash can be more difficult to see.  

What should I do if I suspect meningitis and sepsis?  

Remember – symptoms do not appear in order, and some may not appear at all. If you are in any doubt about the health of your child, get medical help immediately. If you suspect meningitis and sepsis go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. 

For more information, see Meningitis Now or call the Meningitis Now helpline on 0808 80 10 388. 

Meningococcal disease

In addition to causing meningitis, infection with Neisseria meningitidis bacteria can also cause meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning). Meningococcal disease is the collective name given to disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis infection.  Disease may present as either meningococcal meningitis or meningococcal septicaemia or as both together.

Meningococcal bacteria are divided into distinct serogroups, according to their polysaccharide outer capsule. The most common serogroups that cause disease worldwide are groups B, C, A, Y and W. Most meningococcal disease in the UK is caused by serogroups B and C. However, the number of cases caused by serogroup C has significantly reduced in the UK since routine vaccination was introduced in 1999 in those age groups targeted for vaccination. 

Can meningococcal disease due to MenB bacteria be prevented?  

The MenB vaccine is designed to protect against most meningococcal disease due to MenB bacteria. Since the MenB vaccine was introduced in 2015, cases of meningococcal disease in young children fell by over 60% by the third year of the vaccination programme.

Learn more

If you would like to learn more about the vaccines, or the diseases they protect against a number of information resources are available to help below.

You can also call NHS 111 or your GP practice for advice if you have any questions.