What are the symptoms of meningococcal infection?
A. Meningococcus infects the bloodstreams, the lining of the brain and spinal cord (causing meningitis). Symptoms of bloodstream infection include fever, chills, rash, low blood pressure and dark purple spots on the arms and legs. Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache, confusion and still neck. Q. Is meningococcus dangerous? A. Yes. Every year in the United States approximately 2,500 people are infected with meningococcus and 300 die from the disease. Also, about 400 people every year who survive infection have permanent disabilities, such as seizures, loss of limbs, kidney disease, deafness and mental retardation. The highest incidence of meningococcal disease occurs in infants less than 1 year of age. In children between 2 and 10 year os age, the incidence of meningococcal infections is very low, but starting in adolescence the incidence of disease rises. Although adolescents are less likely to be infected than infants, they are more likely to die when infected. Meningococca
