The Meningococcal bacteria may be present in the body with no effect, or can cause serious illness. Meningococcal disease may manifest as meningitis or as septicemia. It may be caused by any of several bacteria, viruses, or other microscopic organisms. The meningococcal bacteria causes a very serious form of meningitis.
Meningococcal septicemia is a bacterial infection in the blood stream.
This form of the disease can sometimes occur suddenly and be rapidly fatal. Both forms of the disease may rarely result in complications such as gangrene, loss of limb, brain damage and death. The risk of meningococcal disease is 3 per 100,000 in college students, with freshman students living in dormitories having a slightly higher risk. Usually, these bacteria stay in the nose and throat for a few days and then disappear with no ill effects. Some people may continue to have the organism for a longer time in their noses and throats without becoming ill - they are healthy carriers.