Meningococcemia is an acute and potentially life-threatening infection of the bloodstream that commonly leads to vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels).

See also: Septicemia

Meningococcemia is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria frequently lives in a person's upper respiratory tract without causing visible signs of illness. The bacteria can be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets -- for example, you may become infected if you are around someone with the condition when they sneeze or cough.

Family members and those closely exposed to someone with the condition are at increased risk. The infection occurs more frequently in winter and early spring.

There may be few symptoms at first. Some may include:

• Anxiety
• Fever
• Irritability
• Spotty red or purple rash (petechiae)

Additional symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Later symptoms may include:

• Changing level of consciousness
• Ill appearance
• Large areas of bleeding under the skin (purpura)
• Shock

Blood tests will be done to rule out other infections and help confirm meningococcemia. Such tests may include:

• Blood culture
• Complete blood count with differential
• Clotting studies (PT, PTT)

Other tests that may be done include:

• Lumbar puncture to obtain spinal fluid sample for CSF culture
• Skin biopsy and gram stain
• Urinalysis