Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Bacterial Infections and Mycoses > Bacterial Infections > Central Nervous System Bacterial Infections > Meningitis, Bacterial > Meningitis, Meningococcal Terms and Definitions




Meningitis, Meningococcal

Medical Definition: A fulminant infection of the meninges and subarachnoid fluid by the bacterium NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS, producing diffuse inflammation and peri-meningeal venous thromboses. Clinical manifestations include FEVER, nuchal rigidity, SEIZURES, severe HEADACHE, petechial rash, stupor, focal neurologic deficits, HYDROCEPHALUS, and COMA. The organism is usually transmitted via nasopharyngeal secretions and is a leading cause of meningitis in children and young adults. Organisms from Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, Y, and W-135 have been reported to cause meningitis. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp689-701; Curr Opin Pediatr 1998 Feb;10(1):13-8)
Guide Notes: do not coord with NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS unless organism is particularly discussed but coord with specific serogroup (IM) if given
Also Called: Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup A,Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup B,Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup C,Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup W-135,Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup Y
Meningitis, Meningococcal Categories.
Canadian Medical Guide Definition Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome - A condition characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, petechiae, ARTHRALGIA, weakness, and myalgias followed by acute hemorrhagic necrosis of the adrenal glands and severe cardiovascular dysfunction. The syndrome is most often associated with meningococcal septicemia but may occur as a complication of sepsis caused by other organisms, including certain STREPTOCOCCUS species. This disorder may be associated with a prior history of SPLENECTOMY. (From J Emerg Med 1998 Jul-Aug;16(4):643-7)

Meningitis, Meningococcal Medical Definitions and Terms

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