Meningitis, Meningococcal

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Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Meningitis, Meningococcal is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Bacterial Meningococcal Meningitis
• Epidemic Cerebrospinal Meningitis
• Meningococcal Meningitis

Disorder Subdivisions

• None

General Discussion

Meningococcal meningitis is a form of meningitis caused by a specific bacterium known as Neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the membranes (meninges) around the brain or spinal cord. This inflammation can begin suddenly (acute) or develop gradually (subacute). Symptoms may include fever, headache, and a stiff neck, sometimes with aching muscles. Nausea, vomiting and other symptoms may also occur. Skin rashes occur in about half of all individuals with meningococcal meningitis. Treatment with antibiotics and other drugs is usually effective against this infection.

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30333

Tel: (404)639-3534

Tel: (800)311-3435

Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/



NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

6610 Rockledge Drive

MSC 6612

Bethesda, MD 20892-6612

Tel: (301)496-5717

Fax: (301)402-3573

TDD: (800)877-8339

Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/



World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Americas (AMRO)

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

525 23rd Street NW

Washington, DC 20037

Tel: (202)974-3000

Fax: (202)974-3663

Email: postmaster@paho.org

Internet: http://www.who.ch/



National Meningitis Association

738 Robinson Farms Drive

Marietta, GA 30068

Tel: (866)366-3662

Fax: (877)703-6096

Email: support@nmaus.org

Internet: http://www.nmaus.org



Child Brain Injury Trust

The Radcliffe Infirmary

Woodstock Road

Oxford, OX2 6HE

UK

Tel: (0044) 01865 552 467

Email: info@cbituk.org

Internet: http://www.cbituk.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:   6/8/2000

Copyright   1990, 1997, 1998, 2000 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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Last updated:	June 08, 2000