Meningococcal sepsis

Jerry Newman18 said:Alright, you explained that pretty clearly to me,😁
but I was wondering why there isn't a vaccine for that specific bacteria... are vaccines just for viruses, or do they make them for bacteria too?

Honestly, I don't know the exact scientific reason why a vaccine doesn't exist yet, but I can take an educated guess.
If I had to wing it, there are probably two main reasons. Either the vaccine just wouldn't work effectively against this particular strain, or—which is way more likely—meningococcal meningitis doesn't hit hard enough on a national scale to justify the massive cost of developing a vaccine and running a huge vaccination campaign.

We actually have vaccines for both viral stuff, like measles, hepatitis, rubella, and polio, as well as bacterial diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.

Michelle Alvarez8 said:I’m definitely following that philosophy of "if I ignore the virus, it'll ignore me," and honestly, things have been going pretty smoothly so far. 👍

You certainly are something, 😁

So rimfapicin... turns your bodily fluids red lol
It’s basically prophylaxis against meningococcal bacteria
Two days in and you're golden

PS. With meningococcal sepsis and meningitis, symptoms hit the same day you're infected. If you didn't drop dead immediately, you're clearly immune
😁

Honestly, I have to admit, I’m feeling a little worn down by this whole sickness.

...as far as I can tell, there is a vaccine out there for groups A and C meningokok, using some kind of polysaccharide capsular antigen...honestly, the technical details don't matter much...but it’s really only used for specific high-risk groups because the disease itself is quite rare, so trying to vaccinate the entire population would just be absurd...

...then you have different types of meningitis, and the most common one is the epidemic variety, which gets its name simply because when it shows up, it tends to hit everyone at once in an outbreak...that's why it's called that...

...there's also a vaccine for things like tick-borne meningoencephalitis, which they typically give to people who spend their lives working out in the fields and stuff...

...and vaccination isn't the only way to handle prevention either; there are certain medications—I can't recall the exact names off the top of my head—but those are incredibly useful for high-risk groups if an epidemic strain of meningitis starts spreading through a specific area...

stormycyclist13 said:Isn't that actually a brain disease?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord—the meninges. It’s almost always triggered by an infection. It shows up in several different ways depending on what caused it, whether it's bacteria or a virus. In some cases, meningitis can escalate into meningococcal sepsis (blood poisoning).

Bacterial meningitis is the serious stuff. You've got meningococcal, caused by *Neisseria meningitidis*; pneumococcal, from *Streptococcus pneumoniae*; and *Haemophilus influenzae*. On the other hand, serous meningitis is usually driven by viruses, TB bacilli, spirochetes, or fungi.

With bacterial meningitis, timing is everything. The sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. Most people make a full recovery, though some end up dealing with permanent issues like hearing loss, vision problems, or psychological struggles. If left untreated, bacterial meningitis can be fatal. Viral meningitis is typically less severe, and most people recover completely without lasting effects.

Meningococcal disease can present itself as meningitis with varying levels of complications, acute meningococcal sepsis, or chronic meningococcal sepsis.

Jerry Newman18 said:But why isn't there a vaccine for this bacterium? Are vaccines only for viruses, or do they exist for bacteria too?

Treating purulent meningitis requires effective antibiotics, or tuberculotics if we're talking about tuberculous meningitis. Most cases of serous meningitis—which are mostly viral—don't really need much treatment beyond managing the symptoms.

There are 13 different antigenic groups of meningococcus. The most common culprits are groups A, B, C, Y, and W135, though their prevalence shifts depending on where you are in the world.

I think I read somewhere that in the US, almost all cases are caused by meningococcus group B, and there isn't a vaccine for that specific group yet. At this point, the main move is just giving preventative antibiotics to anyone who was in close contact with the patient.

So, an educator at a local preschool passed away yesterday from pneumococcus... they’re saying this bacterium usually just causes sinus infections, throat issues, or pneumonia, but apparently, this was some much more severe strain. Seriously though, what is actually going on out there?

The end is drawing near 🙂

...reflect on the kind of people you have been throughout your life 😉😈

hm.. maybe I should just ask the mother of that baby over in San Diego why everyone is so worked up about her...

It is the exact same story we are seeing over here in the States as well. At the end of January, two young girls fell ill in El Paso—one survived, but the other passed away—and then we saw cases in Albuquerque, and now there is a woman in Boston...
The real danger lies in the fact that the onset of this disease looks terrifyingly similar to a bad case of the flu or a severe virus, characterized by general malaise and a high fever. Since children are usually the ones getting sick, parents tend to keep them home to rest, and it isn't until neck stiffness sets in that they rush to the hospital, at which point, unfortunately, it is often far too late. That is precisely what happened in El Paso. The little girl suffered for three days, and by the time skin bruising appeared and her neck stiffened, she was rushed to the ER where the diagnosis was made immediately, sent to the hospital, and the poor thing passed away just a few hours later...
Cases of meningokok sepsis occur throughout the entire year; it is just that this is the first time the media has truly kicked up a massive storm over it

This specific case of pneumococcal meningitis in the Spanish community is something else entirely—a complication from a primary illness. As Scott Allen10 mentioned, some people simply pass away from things that seem completely banal, like chickenpox...

If people miss the diagnosis because they think it’s just the flu, aren't there any other telltale signs that signal the onset of this illness?
Stiff neck?
Even if it ends up being a false alarm?
What kind of system are they using to catch the cases they actually manage to treat?

silverorca67 said:If people miss the diagnosis because it just feels like the flu, aren't there any other distinct symptoms that might point toward the onset of this illness?

I was wondering about that too...

Michelle Alvarez8 said:I’m basically following that logic of "if I ignore the virus, it won't notice me." It’s working quite well so far. 👍

Hahahaha, you can't even go see a doctor to check if you're losing your mind without being judged.😬

Just wanted to say this isn't nearly as dangerous as the news media is making it out to be.
Meningokok has always been here and always will be. It’s perfectly normal for about 20 percent of the population to be carriers; they aren't sick, they just carry the meningokok in their throat.

Meningokok is all around us. 😁

Back when things hit Canada about two years ago, it was pretty brutal—so many people lost their lives. Eventually, the government stepped up and vaccinated all the kids, and once they started on adults, they even included everyone up to age 24. So, I guess my kids should be good for the next seven years or so... It’s just honestly awful how fast people can pass away, but I suppose that's just how it goes. 😢

Everything you need to know—sourced from the University of Washington School of Medicine

On meningokok

Yeah... I assume you all have heard about this meningococcal outbreak going around the dorms...
And a young girl passed away yesterday..
If I recall correctly, someone mentioned that this isn't technically an epidemic since a few people usually fall victim to it every year... it just feels like what started as a few cases has turned into much more than that..😲

Look, I hit up the flower markets all the time and I’m not losing sleep over meningokok. There’s zero risk of catching anything there...
You guys enjoy your restrictions, though. Hehe.