Mode of transmisison: respiratory droplets

Incubation: 2-10d - commonly 3-4d

Period of infectivity: therapy with rifampicin, ceftriaxone, cipro eradicates N.meningitidis within 24hrs

Vaccines:

• MenCCV (conjugate)

• MCV4D

• 4vMenPV (polysaccharide)

Schedule: funded; splenectomy, hiv, close contacts of cases, bone marrow, immunosuppression, oslid organ transplatn

recommend; adolescent and young aduls communal accom., travellers (Hajj), microbiolists/lab workers

efficacy: conjugate > polysaccharide

precaution; individuals with history of Guillain Barre whoare considering immunisation with MCV4-D

Herd:

• Nisseria meningitisis

  • gram negative

Clinical

• sepsis syndrome

• nausea

• vomiting

• meningism

• rash

  • petechial

  • purpuric

  • maculopapular

• sleep/difficult to rous

• arthralgia/myalgia

• young infants

  • bulging fontanelle

  • tachycardia

  • altered responsiveness

  • irriatbiliyt and/or floppiness

  • refusing drinks or feeds

  • poor peripheral perfusion

• Benzylpenicillin:

  • Adult: 1.2g IV/IM at least 6hourly

  • Children: 25-50mg/kg IV/IM at least 6hours

• Amoxyl

  • 1-2g IV or IM

  • 50-100mg/kg IV/IM

• chemoprophylaxis

  • Rifampicin

    • 10mg/kg every 12hr for 2d

      • \<4wk = 5mg/kg

  • Ceftriaxone

    • single dose IM

      • 125mg \<12yrs

      • 250mg >12yrs

  • Ciprofloxacin

    • 500-750mg single oral dose

    • preferred on OCP

    • larrge groups

    • not for pregnant/lactating woemn