The forms of meningococcal infection and bacterial meningitis
Формы  менингококковой инфекции и бактериальных  менингитов 13.05.2016

The infectious process involved the meninges of the brain and the base of the upper part of the spinal cord. Microorganism colonizes the mucosa of the posterior pharyngeal wall. Meningitis transmitted from person to person by droplet infection. The only source of meningococcal disease in the nature is a human. These are patients with generalized forms, nasopharyngitis and healthy carriers. The pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets when exhaling, coughing, sneezing, and through the items (pacifiers, toys, spoons, dishes) infected saliva.

Meningococcus is unstable in the environment, so the infection spreads mainly in areas with high density of people in the cold season, or in the absence of basic sanitation (shared towels, bed, kitchen utensils, and children’s toys). The most susceptible to generalized forms are the children of the first years of life, did not have time to acquire immunity as a result of repeated episodes of carriage.

For adults and teenagers are more common meningococcal nasopharyngitis and healthy carrier. In young people, the increased incidence is related to the movement of the remote places of residence with low population density in overcrowded groups (dormitories, barracks), located in densely populated areas. For generalized forms of meningococcal disease characterized by periodic rises (1 every 10 years or less) and the winter-spring season.

There are several stages of meningococcal disease, manifested certain traits.

1) The first step is bacteriocarrier asymptomatic for 2-7 days, and sometimes weeks, or even months.

2) The second step is nasopharyngitis. Clinically, there is a general weakness, low-grade fever, headache, and pain when swallowing, cough, rhinitis, sometimes with scanty discharge.

3) Meningococcemia, meningitis steps are generalized infection. It may also manifest itself in the form of meningococcal pneumonia, endocarditis, arthritis, iridocyclitis.

4) Meningococcemia - meningococcal sepsis, characterized by petechial rash on the skin that contains meningococci surrounded zatrombirovannyh vessels. Affects the kidneys, myocardium, marked pericarditis, polyarthritis, and pneumonia.

5) Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges develops against the background of acute nasopharyngitis and manifests severe febrile state and the growth of meningeal symptoms. Often there is a change of consciousness up to coma and possible development of acute cerebral edema. Sometimes it turns into meningitis meningoencephalitis.