Title : Meningococcal infection
Abstract:
Meningococcal infection is an acute respiratory infectious disease disease caused by meningococcal, characterized by a wide range from asymptomatic bacterial carriage to sepsis.
AETIOLOGY
The causative agent is Neisseria meningitides.
12 serogroups, the most common are A, B, C.
All but group B have capsules.
More than 20 serotypes. Unstable to environmental factors.
Produces strong endotoxin.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
The source of infection is a sick person or carrier.
• The transmission route is airborne.
• For one generalized form - from 100 to 10000 carriers.
• Up to 5% of children in DDUs are infected every year.
• Sources of infection:
- generalized forms - 1-3%;
- nasopharyngitis - 10-30%;
- carriers 70-80%.
Seasonality - winter-spring.
PATHOGENESIS
The entrance gate is the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx.
• Ways of spreading - hematogenous, less often through the ethmoid bone.
• In children due to immaturity of the blood-brain barrier and of the immune system, generalized forms occur more often.
• There is discirculation in the cerebral and membrane vessels.
• Hypersecretion of cerebrospinal fluid and delayed resorption.
• Overstimulation of the meninges of the brain and nerve roots.
•Intoxication.
• Changes in hemocoagulation.
CLINIC
The incubation period is from 2 to 10 days.
CLASSIFICATION
Localized forms (carriage of meningococcus, acute nasopharyngitis).
• Generalized forms (meningococcemia, meningitis, mixed forms).
• Rare forms (endocarditis, arthritis, pneumonia, iridocyclitis).
MENINGOCOCCEMIA
• High degree of intoxication.
• It occurs acutely, with a rise in temperature, usually against the background full health.
• A rash appears 8 to 24 hours after the onset of the disease.
FEATURES OF THE RASH WITH MENINGOCCEMIA
• Roseolous with a hemorrhagic component in some elements.
• Star-shaped, spotted, hemorrhagic.
• Cloudy, common, hemorrhagic.
• Localized on the lower half of the body, legs, buttocks.
• Prone to fusion and spread, progresses rapidly.
COMPLICATIONS OF MENINGOCCEMIA
• Multiple organ failure.
• Yoterhouse-Friederiksen syndrome.
• DV syndrome.
