Key points about meningococcal disease
- meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection - it causes severe illness and can cause death
- pēpi and tamariki with meningococcal disease can get sick very quickly
- meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages
- take your child to a health professional urgently if they appear very ill, especially if there is a rash
- take your child back to your health professional urgently if they get worse
- know about the early symptoms of meningococcal disease and teach teenagers about these too
- know where to seek help after hours and how to get there
- early treatment can save lives
Find out about protecting your child against meningococcal B disease.
Meningococcal B Disease Vaccination
What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by a bacteria, and can lead to 2 very serious illnesses:
- meningitis (an infection of membranes that cover the brain)
- septicaemia (a serious infection in the blood)
Some tamariki will have both meningitis and septicaemia, others will have one or the other.
There are several different types of meningococcal bacteria including A, B, C, Y and W.
How common is meningococcal disease?
Between 2013 and 2017, there were between 45 and 112 cases of meningococcal disease each year in New Zealand.
It's more common in winter and spring. The highest rates of meningococcal disease occur in tamariki aged under 5 years and young people aged 15 to 19 years. But, people of any age can be affected.
How meningococcal disease spreads
Meningococcal disease can easily spread from person to person.
The bacteria can spread through close contact such as:
- living in the same household
- coughing and sneezing
- kissing, sharing food and drink
Why only some people exposed to meningococcal bacteria get sick
Some people will carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without getting sick.
Scientists and health professionals don't yet know why some people who come into contact with meningococcal bacteria get sick and others don't.
Who is most at risk of catching meningococcal disease
- meningococcal disease can affect anyone, but those under 20 (and particularly pēpi under one and tamariki under 5) are at greatest risk
- teenagers and young adults who live in shared accommodation (like flats and university halls of residence) are also at increased risk
Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease
Symptoms may appear in any order and some may not appear at all.
In the early stages of meningococcal disease, symptoms may seem similar to those of the flu or any other viral infection. The disease can develop very quickly and is difficult to diagnose.
It's important to be aware of the symptoms so you can get medical help straightaway - whether it's day or night.
Meningococcal disease can be treated with antibiotics but early treatment is very important.
Know about the early symptoms of meningococcal disease and take action if you are concerned.
Symptoms in a baby or child who has meningococcal disease
- have a fever (may also have cool hands and feet, or shivering)
- be crying or unsettled
- refuse drinks or feeds
- vomit
- be sleepy or floppy or harder to wake
- dislike bright lights
- have a stiff neck
- have a bulging fontanelle (the soft area on the top of a baby's head)
- have red or purple spots or bruises on the skin
![A girl's legs showing a meningococcal rash](/sites/default/files/styles/xs/public/images/Legs%20with%20meningococcal%20rash.jpg?itok=Wh0rCWSq)
Photo of a meningococcal rash on a child's legs (be aware only 1 in 3 tamariki with meningococcal disease have a rash).
Source: KidsHealth
![A girl's arm showing a meningococcal rash](/sites/default/files/styles/xs/public/images/Arm%20with%20meningococcal%20rash.jpg?itok=ns72tAFO)
Photo of a meningococcal rash on a child's arm (be aware only 1 in 3 tamariki with meningococcal disease have a rash).
Source: KidsHealth
Symptoms in an older child or adult who has meningococcal disease
- have a fever or a headache
- have a stiff neck
- have joint pain and aching muscles
- vomit
- be sleepy, confused, delirious or unconscious
- dislike bright lights
- have red or purple spots or bruises on the skin (see the photos above but be aware only 1 in 3 tamariki and adults with meningococcal disease have a rash)
When to get medical help for your child
If your child has one or more of the symptoms of meningococcal disease:
- act immediately
- ring your doctor's clinic, after hours medical centre or Healthline (0800 611 116) right away - whether it is night or day
- if it is an emergency, call 111 within New Zealand and ask for an ambulance (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries)
- say what the symptoms are
- insist on immediate action - don't be put off - a life may be at risk
- watch your child, even if they have already been checked by a health professional - ask your health professional what to look out for
- go straight back to a health professional if your child gets worse
- do not leave your child alone
![Don't wait, take action, meningococcal disease poster cover](/sites/default/files/styles/sm/public/2025-01/dont-wait-take-action-poster-cover.jpg?itok=8jY7dtQy)
See the HealthEd website for the 'Don't wait, take action' poster. It includes the symptoms of meningococcal disease in babies and children. The poster is avaliable in English, te reo Māori, Samoan and Tongan.
Treating meningococcal disease
Early treatment of meningococcal disease with antibiotics is very important because it can save lives and reduce the effects of the disease.
Preventing meningococcal disease in close contacts
Once the healthcare team diagnose meningococcal disease in someone, they give antibiotics to that person's close contacts. This treatment clears the organism from their throat and prevents the spread of meningococcal disease from person to person.
Vaccination for meningococcal disease
Several vaccines are available that protect against different groups of meningococcal disease - A, C, Y, W, and B.
MenB (Bexsero) vaccine
Find out about meningococcal B vaccination.
Meningococcal B Disease Vaccination
Menactra
Menactra protects against meningococcal disease types A, C, Y and W.
Some at risk groups can have this free. This includes some young people aged 13 to 25 years in close-living situations.
Talk to your health professional about whether your child or young person can have Menactra.
Mark and Lisa's experience of meningococcal C disease in their daughter Letitia
You can watch a video of a family's experience of meningococcal C disease. In the 5 hours between waking at 3am with a headache and 8am when her family had gathered at Palmerston North Hospital, 18-year-old Letitia (Tesh) Gallagher's body had battled meningococcal C disease.
Meningococcal Disease: You're Better To Be Safe Than Sorry (Video)
Possible complications of meningococcal disease
For every 100 people who get the disease, 5 to 10 will die. Another 20 are likely to be left with some degree of serious disability, such as brain damage, deafness, loss of limbs or damaged skin. Some are also left with learning or behavioural difficulties.
While New Zealand has had a high rate of meningococcal disease, it has had a low death rate compared to other countries. This is partly due to high awareness of the disease and the importance of seeking urgent medical attention, and to early treatment.
Between 2013 and 2017, there were between 2 and 9 deaths from meningococcal disease each year in New Zealand.
Ripu's own experience of surviving meningococcal disease
![Stuff news logo](/sites/default/files/styles/sm/public/2025-01/stuff-logo.jpg?itok=JgFVA0xD)
Ripu Bhatia was a 21-year-old university student living in Sydney when he had his arms and legs amputated after getting meningococcal disease. You can read Ripu's story at the Stuff website.
Healthline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 611 116. Call Healthline if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell, hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. It's free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone.
Acknowledgements
This content has been produced by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand in collaboration with the Immunisation Team, Ministry of Health.
Photo of a child's chest with a meningococcal rash reproduced from DermNet's meningococcal disease page.
Photo of a meningococcal rash on and around a child's ear is by D. Scott Smith, MD, taken at Stanford University Hospital.