Meningococcal Disease
Page last updated 11/24/2025.
In alignment with leading medical, health, and patient advocacy groups, the County of San Diego affirms that vaccines are not linked to autism. We remain committed to ensuring residents continue to have access to safe and effective vaccines that are based on credible, transparent, and science-based evidence.
Meningococcal disease is a name for any infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis.
Meningitis and bloodstream infections are the two most common types of meningococcal infections. With meningococcal meningitis, the bacteria infect the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause swelling. With a meningococcal bloodstream infection, the bacteria enter the blood and damage the walls of the blood vessels. This causes bleeding in the skin and organs. It is a serious disease and can be deadly in hours.
On this page:
-
The best way to prevent meningococcal disease is to get
vaccinated. The CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination
for:
- All preteens and teens, and
- Children and
adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease which may
include:
- Those with complement component deficiencies (a disorder of the body to help fight off infections),
- Those not having a spleen (or asplenia) or a spleen that does not properly function (sickle cell disease),
- Those with specific problems with the immune system (persistent complement component deficiency, complement inhibitor use),
- HIV infection,
- College students in residential settings,
- Military recruits,
- Men who have sex with men (MSM).
- Learn more about meningococcal vaccination.
- Close contacts of someone with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to prevent them from getting sick. A healthcare provider or health department generally decides who should get preventive antibiotics.
N. meningitidis are bacteria that can live in the back of the nose and throat. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in their throats and aren’t sick. Sometimes the bacteria move to other parts of the body and can cause infection.
Meningococcal bacteria are spread or passed from person-to-person through saliva or mucus from the mouth or throat (spit). This can happen through close or long contact such as kissing, sharing eating utensils, or living in the same household.
It doesn’t spread as easily as the common cold or flu - casual contact (like walking by someone or briefly talking) usually doesn’t cause infection. Close contact over time is the main risk.
Many factors affect someone’s risk for meningococcal disease, including age and certain medical conditions and medicines. Symptoms of meningococcal disease can first appear as a flu-like illness and rapidly worsen.
The most common symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include:
- Fever,
- Headache, and/or
- Stiff neck.
There are often additional symptoms, such as:
- Altered mental status (confusion),
- Nausea, and/or
- Photophobia (eyes being more sensitive to light).
Symptoms of a bloodstream infection may include:
- Cold hands and feet,
- Diarrhea or nausea with or without vomiting,
- Fatigue (feeling tired),
- Fever and chills,
- Rapid breathing,
- Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or abdomen (belly), and/or
- In the later stages, a dark purple rash.
Babies may not have the classic symptoms listed above. If they do, it may be difficult to notice the symptoms.
Instead, symptoms in babies may include:
- Appear to be slow or inactive,
- Be irritable,
- Feed poorly,
- Have a bulging anterior fontanelle (the soft spot of the skull), and/or
- Have abnormal reflexes.
Complications and when to seek help:
Even with antibiotic treatment, 10 to 15 in 100 people with meningococcal disease will die.
One in 5 survivors will have long-term disabilities, such as:
- Brain damage,
- Deafness,
- Loss of limb(s), and/or
- Nervous system problems.
Call a healthcare provider right away if you think you or your child may have meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms are often similar to other illnesses. Healthcare providers who suspect meningococcal disease will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). They then send the samples to a lab for testing.
A patient will get antibiotics right away if a healthcare provider thinks they have meningococcal disease. Antibiotics help reduce the risk of dying. Depending on how serious the infection is, people with meningococcal disease may need other treatments, including:
- Breathing support,
- Medications to treat low blood pressure,
- Surgery to remove dead tissue, and/or
- Wound care for parts of the body with damaged skin.
County of San Diego
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
For more information, call the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499 or send an e-mail.
Popular Services