Meningococcal infection

Infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.

(Neisseria was formerly called Meningococcus and the term 'meningococcal' is still entrenched.)</P> Persons with a meningococcal infection may have any of several acute illnesses, including: > >meningitis and sepsis (blood infection), >meningitis in the absence of sepsis, >sepsis in the absence of meningitis, >a predominantly cutaneous (skin) condition called purpura fulminans, or >some combination of these conditions.

</LI></UL>Other illnesses that can occur from meningococcal infection in the absence of sepsis include pharyngitis (throat infection), conjunctivitis (eye infection), pneumonia, and arthritis.

</P> See also: Meningococcal meningitis; Meningococcal vaccine; Meningococcemia; Meningococcus.