"The Meningitis Centre is striving to eliminate Meningitis in Australia by lobbying for vaccines and educating the community to be aware of the signs and symptoms. The Centre also provides support for families affected by the disease"
How is bacterial meningitis spread?
The germs that cause bacterial meningitis are very common and live naturally in the back of the nose and throat of about 15% of the population. They can be spread between people by coughing, sneezing and kissing but they cannot live for more than a few seconds outside the body. Therefore they cannot be picked up from water supplies, swimming pools, buildings or factories.
People of any age can carry the germs for days, weeks or months without becoming ill. In fact, being a carrier helps to boost natural immunity. Only on rare occasions do the bacteria overcome the body’s defences and cause meningitis. The exact reasons for this are still unclear.
The incubation period for most bacterial meningitis is between two and ten days.
What can be done to prevent people getting Meningitis?
Very close family contacts and other intimate contacts of the patient are at an increased risk of contracting the disease. With meningococcal infection and sometimes with Hib infections, antibiotics are offered to these close contacts.
Public health doctors are urgently notified of each case of meningococcal disease and conduct a 'contact trace.' The 'contact trace' is conducted to identify people who have been in 'high risk contact' with a person who has meningococcal disease, within the seven days prior to onset of the disease. 'High risk contacts' are usually people who have been living in the same houshold as the person who developed the disease or who had close contact with the patient. Where a case of meningococcal disease involves a patient who attends a childcare group, or school class, individual in-depth assessments of particular circumstances are made. Usually, other contacts such as school friends and workmates are normally not at any significant risk and generally do not need special treatment with antibiotics or investigation. However any doubts should be discussed with the Department of Health.
People who are identified as high-risk contacts are offered preventative or prophylactic antibiotics. They reduce, but cannot eliminate, the risk of family members or other high risk contacts also becoming ill. Because of this, if contacts who have received antibiotics become unwell or exhibit some of the symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia, it is vital they also seek urgent medical attention.
Disclaimer
The Meningitis Centre is a 'not for profit' support organisation based in Australia, not a professional medical authority. Consequently the text on this web site provides general information about meningitis and septicaemia, not medical advice and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of the diseases. Please consult your doctor to discuss the information or if you are concerned someone may be ill.
