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Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, a gram negative diplococcus. Meningococcal disease includes meningitis, meningococcal septicemia, or a combination of both, which can be life-threatening and rapidly progressive. If left untreated, the disease has a high mortality rate; however, it is preventable through vaccination. Meningitis and meningococcal sepsis are major causes of illness, death, and disability in both developed and under-developed countries.
Meningococcal disease can be transmitted to others through saliva, close contact with an infected individual by inhaling respiratory air droplets. Initial symptoms may be subtle and similar to other bacterial infection, but can quickly progress to include fever, rash, body aches, photophobia and other complications. Neisseria meningitidis colonizes a substantial proportion of the general population without issues, but it can invade the bloodstream, affecting the entire body, most notably limbs and brain, causing serious illness in a small percentage of individuals.
The global incidence of meningococcal disease is relatively low, ranging from 0.0 to 10.2 per 100,000 however cases in the United States are rising. Serotypes of the bacteria range from various countries, with serotype B accounting for most new cases worldwide. Meningococcal vaccines have sharply reduced the incidence of the disease in developed countries.
Vaccine has also shown to lessen cases of illness and their associated complications as well as death. Current vaccinations cover most of the bacterial strains that causes meningococcal disease. This has led to a decrease of incidence and burden from the disease. Treatment include supportive care, early administration of antibiotics and management of complications associated with infection. Ongoing research continues in an effort to understand specific aspects of meningococcal biology and host interactions; however, the development of improved treatments and effective vaccines is expected to depend on novel efforts by workers in many different fields.
Meningococcal disease causes life-threatening meningitis and sepsis conditions. In the case of meningitis, bacteria attack the lining between the brain and skull called the meninges. Infected fluid from the meninges then passes into the spinal cord, causing symptoms including stiff neck, fever and rashes. The meninges (and sometimes the brain itself) begin to swell, which affects the central nervous system.[citation needed]
Even with antibiotics, approximately 1 in 10 people who suffer from meningococcal meningitis will die; however, a similar proportion of survivors are affected by limb loss, hearing impairment, or permanent brain damage. The sepsis type of infection is much more deadly, and results in a severe blood poisoning called meningococcal sepsis that affects the entire body. In this case, bacterial toxins rupture blood vessels and can rapidly shut down vital organs. Within hours, patient's health can change from seemingly good to mortally ill.[unreliable source?]
The N. meningitidis bacterium is surrounded by a slimy outer coat that contains disease-causing endotoxin. While many bacteria produce endotoxin, the levels produced by meningococcal bacteria are 100 to 1,000 times greater (and accordingly more lethal) than normal. As the bacteria multiply and move through the bloodstream, it sheds concentrated amounts of toxin. The endotoxin directly affects the heart, reducing its ability to circulate blood, and also causes pressure on blood vessels throughout the body. As some blood vessels start to hemorrhage, major organs like the lungs and kidneys are damaged.[citation needed]
Patients with meningococcal disease are treated with a large dose of antibiotic. The systemic antibiotic flowing through the bloodstream rapidly kills the bacteria but, as the bacteria are killed, even more toxin is released. It takes up to several days for the toxin to be neutralized from the body by using continuous liquid treatment and antibiotic therapy.
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Meningococcal disease AI simulator
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Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, a gram negative diplococcus. Meningococcal disease includes meningitis, meningococcal septicemia, or a combination of both, which can be life-threatening and rapidly progressive. If left untreated, the disease has a high mortality rate; however, it is preventable through vaccination. Meningitis and meningococcal sepsis are major causes of illness, death, and disability in both developed and under-developed countries.
Meningococcal disease can be transmitted to others through saliva, close contact with an infected individual by inhaling respiratory air droplets. Initial symptoms may be subtle and similar to other bacterial infection, but can quickly progress to include fever, rash, body aches, photophobia and other complications. Neisseria meningitidis colonizes a substantial proportion of the general population without issues, but it can invade the bloodstream, affecting the entire body, most notably limbs and brain, causing serious illness in a small percentage of individuals.
The global incidence of meningococcal disease is relatively low, ranging from 0.0 to 10.2 per 100,000 however cases in the United States are rising. Serotypes of the bacteria range from various countries, with serotype B accounting for most new cases worldwide. Meningococcal vaccines have sharply reduced the incidence of the disease in developed countries.
Vaccine has also shown to lessen cases of illness and their associated complications as well as death. Current vaccinations cover most of the bacterial strains that causes meningococcal disease. This has led to a decrease of incidence and burden from the disease. Treatment include supportive care, early administration of antibiotics and management of complications associated with infection. Ongoing research continues in an effort to understand specific aspects of meningococcal biology and host interactions; however, the development of improved treatments and effective vaccines is expected to depend on novel efforts by workers in many different fields.
Meningococcal disease causes life-threatening meningitis and sepsis conditions. In the case of meningitis, bacteria attack the lining between the brain and skull called the meninges. Infected fluid from the meninges then passes into the spinal cord, causing symptoms including stiff neck, fever and rashes. The meninges (and sometimes the brain itself) begin to swell, which affects the central nervous system.[citation needed]
Even with antibiotics, approximately 1 in 10 people who suffer from meningococcal meningitis will die; however, a similar proportion of survivors are affected by limb loss, hearing impairment, or permanent brain damage. The sepsis type of infection is much more deadly, and results in a severe blood poisoning called meningococcal sepsis that affects the entire body. In this case, bacterial toxins rupture blood vessels and can rapidly shut down vital organs. Within hours, patient's health can change from seemingly good to mortally ill.[unreliable source?]
The N. meningitidis bacterium is surrounded by a slimy outer coat that contains disease-causing endotoxin. While many bacteria produce endotoxin, the levels produced by meningococcal bacteria are 100 to 1,000 times greater (and accordingly more lethal) than normal. As the bacteria multiply and move through the bloodstream, it sheds concentrated amounts of toxin. The endotoxin directly affects the heart, reducing its ability to circulate blood, and also causes pressure on blood vessels throughout the body. As some blood vessels start to hemorrhage, major organs like the lungs and kidneys are damaged.[citation needed]
Patients with meningococcal disease are treated with a large dose of antibiotic. The systemic antibiotic flowing through the bloodstream rapidly kills the bacteria but, as the bacteria are killed, even more toxin is released. It takes up to several days for the toxin to be neutralized from the body by using continuous liquid treatment and antibiotic therapy.