Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases
Meningococcal Disease
Reportable to local or state health department
Consult the health department before posting/distributing Parent/Guardian fact sheet.
This disease most often affects children and young adults. Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment. Vaccination may help prevent some cases of this illness.
Cause
Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.
Symptoms
Bacteremia - sudden onset of fever, chills, and tiredness; sometimes a rash.
- Meningitis - fever, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, extreme sleepiness, confusion, irritability, and lack of appetite; sometimes a rash or seizures.
Spread
Through direct contact with secretions from the nose and throat of an infected or colonized person (e.g., through kissing; sharing food, beverages, toothbrushes, or cigarettes). Spread is more common among people with close personal contact or in households, child care settings, or schools where there is close prolonged physical contact.
Incubation
It takes 1 to 10 days, but usually 3 to 4 days, from the time a person is exposed to the bacteria until symptoms begin.
Contagious Period
Until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.
Exclusion
Child Care and School: Consult with your local or state health department. Each situation must be looked at individually to determine appropriate control measures to implement. Most children may return after the child has been on appropriate antibiotics for at least 24 hours and is well enough to participate in routine activities.
The child care provider or school may choose to exclude exposed staff and attendees until preventive treatment has been started, or if there is concern that they will not follow through with recommended preventive treatment.
Diagnosis
Laboratory tests can be done to detect N. meningitides when disease is suspected.
Treatment
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics.
Exposed persons should contact a healthcare provider at the first signs of meningococcal disease.
Prevention/Control
- Public health will make recommendations to the child care, school, and other contacts. Antibiotics and/or vaccine may be recommended.
- Antibiotics to prevent meningitis are recommended for:
- Household contacts.
- Overnight visitors to the household.
- Persons who had contact with the secretions from the mouth or throat through:
- kissing.
- sharing food (eating from the same utensils, plate, etc.).
- sharing beverages (drinking from the same cup, can, glass, or straw).
- sharing cigarettes, cigars, snuff, pipes, etc.
- sharing lip balm, lipstick, lip gloss, etc.
- sharing a toothbrush.
- The following activities are not considered direct contact with the person with meningitis: sharing a book or pencil, walking down the hall, riding the bus, or sitting or standing next to them.
- Persons who have been exposed should remain under medical observation because preventive antibiotics are not always completely effective. If an exposed person develops a fever, call a healthcare provider immediately.
- Do not share drink containers and cups or silverware. Wash and sanitize all dishes and silverware after each use. Encourage children to have their own water bottles.
Clean and sanitize mouthed objects and surfaces. Clean and disinfect other items or surfaces that come in contact with secretions from the nose or mouth.
There are two vaccines to prevent Neisseria meningitidis: Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). The vaccines are highly effective at preventing four of the strains of bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis. However, the vaccine takes some time to take effect and is not considered a substitute for antibiotics following a high risk exposure.
MPSV4 vaccine is recommended for certain high-risk adults over the age of 55 years.
MCV4 vaccine is routinely recommended for all 11 to 12 year olds and certain high-risk children from the ages of 2 to 12 years. The vaccine is also recommended for 13 to 18 year olds who did not receive it previously and also for unvaccinated college freshman living in dormitories.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7), or call your local health department.
Meningococcal Disease Parent Fact Sheet
Your child may have been exposed to:
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection of the covering of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis) or of the blood (bacteremia) that requires prompt treatment.
If you think your child has Meningococcal Disease:
- Tell your child care provider.
- Need to stay home?
- Child Care and School:
Yes, until the child has been on antibiotics at least 24 hours. The child should also be healthy enough for routine activities.
- Child Care and School:
Symptoms
Your child may have chills, a headache, fever, and stiff neck. The child may vomit, be extremely sleepy, and be confused and fussy. The child may not be hungry.
Sometimes symptoms include a rash or seizures.
If your child is infected, it may take 1 to 10 days for symptoms to start. It usually takes 3 or 4 days.
Spread
- By direct contact with saliva and secretions of the nose and throat. This may happen by kissing, sharing food, beverages, toothbrushes, or silverware.
Contagious Period
Until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Call your Healthcare Provider
If anyone in your home:
- has symptoms of the illness. Your doctor will decide if a test or treatment is needed.
- has been exposed (by direct contact with saliva or is a household contact) to someone with meningococcal disease.
Prevention
- The local or state health department will help to determine who has been exposed and will need to take preventive antibiotics.
- DO NOT share drink containers, water bottles, straws, silverware, cigarettes, lip balm, toothbrushes, or other things that come in contact with the mouth. Wash all dishes with hot soapy water between uses.
- Clean and disinfect objects that come in contact with secretions from the nose or mouth. Use a product that kills bacteria.
- Check with your healthcare provider about vaccinations that can protect against some strains of meningococcal disease.
For more information, call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7), or call your local health department.