Meningitis & Septicaemia

Question 1

Meningitis & Septicaemia

What are they

Answer 1

Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges, the tissues that protect the brain and spinal cord.

Septicaemia - an infection of the blood. May be caused by the same pathogens as meningitis, although there are many other causes.

Question 2

Meningitis & Septicaemia

info

Answer 2

Meningoccocal disease leading cause of death in children and young people
1200 confirmed cases in england and wales each year
Two ofetn overlap

The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the UK has changed dramatically in the past two decades following the introduction of vaccines to control Hib,serogroup C meningococcus and some types of pneumococcus. As no vaccine is currently licensed against serogroup B meningococcus, this pathogen is now the most common cause of bacterial meningitis (and septicaemia) in children and young people aged 3 months or older. NICE guidelines 2015

Question 3

Presentations

of

Answer 3

Meningitis only (25 %) – bacteria enter blood and are carried to meninges
 Septicaemia only (20 %) – bacteria overwhelm circulatory system
 Meningitis & septicaemia (55 %) – bacteria overwhelm blood & meninges simultaneously

Question 4

Meningococcal Meningitis

Answer 4

3 main strains – A, B, C
Accounts for more than half of meningitis cases
Mortality rate 2 – 10 %
40 % develop a non-blanching rash
Rash caused by small subcutaneous haemorrhage
Incubation period 2 – 10 days
More rapid the development of symptoms the more serious the condition

Question 5

Meningococcal Septicaemia

Answer 5

Type of blood poisoning – caused by same bacteria as meningitis
Bacteria causes blood vessels to become porous and allow blood to leak out
This accumulates under skin = non-blanching rash
30 % of cases start with blanching pink rash that becomes purpuric later

Question 6

Signs & Symptoms

Answer 6

Fever.
Vomiting.
Drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness.
Severe headache.
Stiff neck (not always present in young children).
Photophobia.
Cold hands & feet.
Rapid breathing.
Stomach, joint, muscle pain (sometimes with diarrhoea).
Purpuric rash (develops anywhere on the body).

Babies & young children may also display the following symptoms:- 
bulging fontanelle 
blotchy skin, turning white or blue; 
refusal to feed 
irritable when picked up
high-pitched or moaning cry 
stiff body with jerky movements  
floppy and lifeless