Adolescents are at increased risk for meningococcal disease
- Following childhood, meningococcal disease rates begin to rise again in early adolescence and peak between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age1-3
-
The majority of cases of meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults
are caused by potentially vaccine-preventable serogroups of N meningitidis
(C, Y, and W-135)1,3,4
Average annual incidence of meningococcal disease in Maryland,
1992—1999.1
Adapted with permission from Harrison LH et al. JAMA. 2001;286:694-699.1
Mean rates of meningococcal disease by age group in the United States,
1996—2004.2
Adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR.
1996–2004.2
The consequences of meningococcal disease can be potentially devastating
Number of deaths from meningococcal disease by age group in the United States,
1996–2003.5
Adapted from the CDC. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 1996–2003.5
Although rare (1400 to 2800 cases reported annually), meningococcal disease can be fatal to an otherwise healthy young person in 48 hours or less.4,6,7
Based on CDC data and a recent population-based surveillance study for meningococcal disease, case fatality rates are up to 5 times higher among 15- to 24-year-olds compared with younger populations.1,5
Of the survivors, up to 1 in 5 will suffer from permanent sequelae, including amputation, severe scarring, hearing loss, and neurological damage.4,6,7
References:
1. Harrison LH, Pass MA, Mendelsohn AB, et al. Invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults. JAMA. 2001;286:694-699.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Summary of notifiable diseases – United States, 1996 – 2004. MMWR. 1997;45(53):10; 1998;46(54):10; 1999;47(53):12; 2001;48(53):12; 2002;49(53):12; 2003;50(53):15; 2004;51(53):28; 2005;52(54):28; 2006;53(53):30.
3. Rosenstein NE, Perkins BA, Stephens DS, et al. The changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States, 1992-1996. J Infect Dis. 1999;180: 1894-1901.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Prevention and control of meningococcal disease and meningococcal disease and college students: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2005;54(RR-7):1-21.
5. CDC. Deaths: final data for 1996 – 2003. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 1998;47:51; 1999;47:52; 2000;48:51; 2001;49:27; 2002;50:28; 2003;52:30; 2004;53:29; 2006;54:30.
6. Erickson L, De Wals P. Complications and sequelae of meningococcal disease in Quebec, Canada, 1990-1994. Clin Infect Dis. 1998;26:1159-1164.
7. Erickson LJ, De Wals P, McMahon J, Heim S. Complications of meningococcal disease in college students. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33:737-739.