Diseases

Meningococcal Meningitis

A fulminant infection of the meninges and subarachnoid fluid by the bacterium NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS, producing diffuse inflammation and peri-meningeal venous thromboses. Clinical manifestations include FEVER, nuchal rigidity, SEIZURES, severe HEADACHE, petechial rash, stupor, focal neurologic deficits, HYDROCEPHALUS, and COMA. The organism is usually transmitted via nasopharyngeal secretions and is a leading cause of meningitis in children and young adults. Organisms from Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, Y, and W-135 have been reported to cause meningitis. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp689-701; Curr Opin Pediatr 1998 Feb;10(1):13-8)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A fulminant infection of the meninges and subarachnoid fluid by the bacterium NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS, producing diffuse inflammation and peri-meningeal venous thromboses. Clinical manifestations include FEVER, nuchal rigidity, SEIZURES, severe HEADACHE, petechial rash, stupor, focal neurologic deficits, HYDROCEPHALUS, and COMA. The organism is usually transmitted via nasopharyngeal secretions and is a leading cause of meningitis in children and young adults. Organisms from Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, B, C, Y, and W-135 have been reported to cause meningitis. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp689-701; Curr Opin Pediatr 1998 Feb;10(1):13-8)

MeSH Record

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

25 entry terms
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal
  • Meningitis, Meningococcic
  • Meningitis, Neisseria
  • Neisseria Meningitis
  • Neisseria Meningitides
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup A
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup B
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup C
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup W-135
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup W135
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal, Serogroup Y
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup A
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup B
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup C
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup W-135
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup W135
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup Y
  • Serogroup A Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Serogroup B Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Serogroup C Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Serogroup W-135, Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Serogroup W135, Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Serogroup Y, Meningococcal Meningitis
  • Meningococcal Meningitis, Serogroup W 135
  • Serogroup W 135, Meningococcal Meningitis

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

36 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemically induced, classification, complications, congenital, diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, diet therapy, drug therapy, economics, embryology, enzymology, epidemiology, ethnology, etiology, genetics, history, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, mortality, nursing, parasitology, pathology, physiopathology, prevention & control, psychology, radiotherapy, rehabilitation, surgery, therapy, transmission, urine, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not coord with NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS unless organism is particularly discussed but coord with specific serogroup (IM) if given

MeSH Record

History Note

1978(1963)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. C01w.150.252w.223.500.750
  2. C01w.150.252w.400w.625.549w.449
  3. C01w.207w.180.500.750
  4. C10w.228w.228w.180.500.750
  5. C10w.586.625w.280.505

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WC 245

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Meningococcal Meningitis. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D008585. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D008585
  2. Meningococcal Meningitis. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7386479