Recognition and early management of meningococcal disease in children and young people

Meningococcal disease (MD) remains an important cause of mortality in children in the UK. This handbook presents discussion and learning points from clinical case histories, a background to MD, and information on making a diagnosis, pathophysiology and principles of management.

Aims of the handbook

  • Use clinical examples to teach about the signs of septicaemia and meningitis
  • Clarify the important differences between meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia
  • Outline the basic management of meningococcal septicaemia and meningitis in line with the protocol 'Early Management of Meningococcal Disease in Children'.
  • Describe the clinical pathophysiology of meningococcal disease

It was published by the Meningitis Research Foundation in 2007.