Everyone should be sensitive to public health measures that decrease exposure to oral secretions, such as covering one s mouth when coughing or sneezing and washing hands after contact with oral secretions. Drinking directly from keg spigots and sharing cups or food at large parties should also be avoided. Understanding the characteristic signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease is critical and possibly lifesaving. A rash may begin as a flat, red eruption, mainly on the arms and legs. New petechiae can form rapidly, even while the patient is being examined.
Meningococcal disease can be rapidly progressive.
With early diagnosis and treatment, however, the likelihood of a full recovery is increased. Anyone who becomes ill with flu-like symptoms should be alert for symptoms that rapidly become more severe such as high fever, vomiting, rash, headache and changes in mental status. A person experiencing such symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. The American College Health Association recommends that all college students under the age of 30 consider vaccination against meningococcal disease. The vaccine is not effective for children under the age of 2 hears and has not been advised for those adults older than 30 years due to very low incidence in this age group.