A person can be contagious even without any symptoms. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but it is more common in infants and children. Recent studies have shown that children exposed to tobacco smoke are at higher risk for infection. Overcrowding, climatic conditions such as a dry season, prolonged drought, or dust storms, and upper respiratory tract infections may contribute to the development of epidemics. College freshmen living in dormitories may be at higher risk.
Meningococcal disease is treated with injected or intravenous antibiotics.
Oral antibiotics like rifampin are given to reduce the number of meningococcal bacteria in the nose and throat. These antibiotics are given to close contacts of cases with meningococcal disease. People who may have had direct contact with the nose and throat discharge of an infected person should contact their primary health care provider about treatment with rifampin. Casual contacts such as classmates or co-workers usually do not require treatment unless they shared beverage containers, cigarettes, or objects entering the mouth. There is a vaccine that will protect against some strains of N. meningitidis , but it is only recommended in outbreaks or for travel to areas of the world with high rates of the disease.