Meningococcal infection

Meningococcal infection: Infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. (Neisseria was formerly called Meningococcus and the term "meningococcal" is still entrenched.)

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

See also: Meningococcal meningitis; Meningococcal vaccine; Meningococcemia; Meningococcus.