Meningococcal infection is a disease of infectious etiology, which is accompanied by polysystemic organ damage. The disease begins after the penetration of a sufficient pathogenetic concentration of meningococcus into the human body. The process can occur with the phenomena of non-clinical carriage of infection - the most dangerous form in the epidemic. The fact is that the bacterium carrier infects healthy people, while not only does it not get sick, and sometimes does not even suspect that it is a carrier of meningococcus.
Thus, a meningococcal infection is transmitted from a sick person and from a bacterium carrier by a drop by coughing and sneezing. The causative agent is very unstable in environmental conditions and dies at temperatures above 20 degrees.
The spread of meningococcal infection is facilitated by large crowds, small groups with close contact between people, the cold season and high humidity.
After the introduction of the pathogenic microbe into the body, the meningococcal infection goes through an incubation period of about a week. During this time, the microbe multiplies intensively and gains strength, and then the clinical signs of the disease appear .
Meningococcal infection proceeds like a common cold and can have clinical forms that determine the course of the disease.
Acute nasopharyngitis is one of the most common forms of the disease, which occurs with a primary lesion of the nasopharynx. Patients are concerned about a sore throat, scanty nasal discharge, difficulty in nasal breathing, an exhausting dry cough, which is allowed only at the end of the disease. This form may be accompanied by vegetative-vascular disorders - headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness. If the process of inflammation is delayed, then the vascular wall of the capillaries of the nose becomes thinner and bleeding may occur.
Meningococcal infection can be complicated by purulent meningitis or meningococcemia.
Purulent meningitis - inflammation of the meninges and the presence of pus in the spinal fluid. Meningitis is accompanied by meningeal and cerebrospinal syndromes and indicates a severe course. Meningitis caused by meningococcus begins acutely and is manifested by fibril temperature.
Meningococcal infection, the symptoms of which begin at lightning speed, with a sharp increase in temperature to forty degrees, is prognostically very unfavorable. Against the background of high temperature, the patient develops chills, the skin becomes dry and pale, pains in the joints and muscles appear. Then in the near future (in a few hours) a hemorrhagic rash appears on the body - this is menengococcemia.
A hemorrhagic rash begins mainly from the lower extremities (on the buttocks, legs, or feet) and has an ascending character. Sometimes there can be a single hemorrhagic element, and then the body is literally completely covered with hemorrhages. If the rash appears immediately in the upper body, then this indicates an unfavorable course of the disease and increases the risk of mortality.
Meningococcal infection - prevention.
Vaccination is the only effective measure to prevent this disease, however, in most cases, the drug with strain A and C is common in hospitals, and the most common strain that causes the disease is B.
Eliminating contact with patients, reducing the amount of time spent in crowded places and small groups is also a preventive measure, but less effective. Also isolation of patients from kindergartens and preschool institutions and places of work.
As a prophylaxis of all diseases, you can use means that stimulate the immune system, and multivitamins.