ore of a danger for people with certain medical conditions, such as a damaged or absent spleen, chronic disease, or immune system disorders.

Because certain germs that cause meningitis can be contagious, outbreaks are most likely to occur in places where people are living in close quarters. So college students in dorms or army recruits in barracks are at higher risk.

raveling to areas where meningitis is more common, such as parts of Africa.

it's still a rare disease and there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of getting the disease.

acteria can also cause other kinds of meningococcal disease such as septicemia (blood poisoning).

common type of bacterial meningitis is pneumococcal meningitis, which is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

eading cause of bacterial meningitis was Haemophilus influenzae type b, but new vaccines being given to children as part of their routine immunizations have reduced the occurrence of this disease.

not fully understood why a few people develop meningitis from bacteria which are harmless to most people, but it may be because of a weakened immune system.

Symptoms include fever, sudden severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, and vomiting

wo or more symptoms of these symptoms, seek help from a health care provider right away.

will carry this bacteria in the back of their nose and throat at some point in their lives without ever getting sick or even realizing they are there.

the bacteria overcome the body’s immune system and pass through the lining of the nose and throat into the blood stream where they can cause meningitis.

Viral meningitis, which is caused by viruses, can cause similar symptoms to bacterial meningitis, however it is seldom life-threatening. Most people make a full recovery without any specific treatment.

people who have had close contact with an infected person are given antibiotics to make sure they are protected.

mall percentage of people who are exposed to the bacteria will develop meningitis because most people have a natural resistance to it.

pread through exchange of respiratory droplets or saliva with an infected person, including kissing, coughing , sneezing, and sharing drinking glasses, eating utensils, or cigarettes.

he bacteria that cause meningitis are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

very weak and can only survive for a short time outside the body

cannot live long in the air and are not carried on clothes, furniture, or other surfaces.

Meningococcal meningitis can be extremely serious.

esult in blindness, hearing loss, mental retardation, loss of limbs or death.

t is fatal in one in ten cases, and one in seven survivors is left with a severe hand

icap. The disease can progress quite rapidly, so it is important to seek medical attention quickly.

t would occur in two to seven days, usually less than four days.

an be contagious from the time they are infected until the bacteria has disappeared from their body.

meningococcal disease (which includes meningococcal meningitis) occurs annually in about 1 to 3 people per 100,000 population.

averaged about 70 cases per year for the past few years.

There is a vaccine that will decrease the risk of some types of meningococcal meningitis, but it does not totally eliminate risk of the disease.

ot effective against the B strain; although it is highly effective against the C and Y strains, it still does not confer 100% protection.  Protection lasts from three to five years.