Meningococcal disease is caused by one of the most aggressive and virulent bacteria commonly found in the back of the throat.

Meningococcal disease commonly takes two forms:

1. Meningococcal septicaemia (blood poisoning) – This is the more dangerous and deadly of the two illnesses. It happens when the bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply uncontrollably, damaging the walls of the blood vessels and causes bleeding into the skin. The illness is called meningococcal septicaemia and usually is associated with the purple rash. Septicaemia can lead to death within hours, or permanent disabilities such as scars and amputations. See the below animation which shows how it travels through the blood system.
   
   
2. Meningococcal meningitis (bacterial meningitis) – If the bacteria are in the meninges (the thin covering of the brain and spinal cord), the disease is known as meningococcal meningitis. There are many different forms of meningitis - including fungal, viral and bacterial. Bacterial forms, such as meningococcal meningitis, are the most serious. This illness can result in permanent disabilities - such as deafness or brain damage - and even death. Symptoms may include a severe headache, fever, fatigue, stiff or painful neck, sensitivity to light or convulsions. See the below animation which shows how it travels around the brain and spinal cord.
   

THE INCUBATION PERIOD IS BETWEEN TWO & TEN DAYS.

Always remember. Anyone at any time is at risk of contracting meningococcal disease. There still is no real understanding as to why we are able to usually live with these bacteria in our airways, but in rare cases our natural defence system is unable to cope.

Contracting meningococcal, surviving and walking away to tell the story is like being blessed by Lady Luck or miraculously favoured by the throw of the dice.

MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA RASH

The single most specific and most noticeable symptom of meningococcal septicaemia is a rash. The rash occurs in two-thirds of cases.

Aching joints is a early symptom.

These are the forms the rash may take: Blister Spot Major Haemorrhage

The rash must be taken seriously as the person requires urgent medical attention. Sometimes it does not appear until the disease is quite advanced.

The rash is caused by bleeding from the bloodstream causing the blood to pool underneath the skin. The bleeding occurs when blood vessels are damaged by the release of endotoxin in large quantities.

ENDOTOXIN

Endotoxins are toxic protoplasms of micro-organisms which are liberated and cause toxic actions when the organism dies or disintegrates.  Large amounts of endotoxins will cause extensive damage to small blood vessels. causing plasma (the fluid part of blood) to leak out of the blood stream and causing the person to go into shock. The blood pressure falls, and the circulation is reduce to most parts of the body. Is is difficult to correct the shock.

YOU MUST SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE IF YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE HAS CAUGHT THE DIEASE