Meningococcemia

Meningococcemia is a serious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It invades the bloodstream, affecting the whole body by causing coagulation disorders and shock (lack of blood flow which leads to a lack of oxygen and nutrients in cells and organs to function properly). It is transmitted by drops from an infected individual through breathing, sneezing and/or coughing. There may be few symptoms (fever, headache, irritability, muscle pain, nausea, skin rash with red/purple patches or petechiae), with the delayed symptoms being impaired consciousness, areas of bleeding under the skin and shock. The diagnosis is made through the medical history, a physical examination, laboratory tests and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, cultures, skin lesion biopsy, etc. It requires urgent admission to an intensive care unit, respiratory isolation and treatment to be started early.