title: Meningococcal disease: how to prevent and how to manage.
abstract: Meningococcal disease is a significant problem in the paediatric population. The diagnosis of meningococcal disease can be problematic and progression of the disease can rapidly lead to a life-threatening illness. Despite the success of antibiotic treatment, mortality rates remain high. The development of protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines has significantly improved the success of vaccination in reducing the incidence of meningococcal disease. However, a comprehensive vaccine conferring protection against disease-associated serogroups remains elusive. The aim of this review is to highlight recent significant improvements in the prevention and management of meningococcal disease.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Evaluation Department, Manchester Public Health Laboratory Service, Withington Hospital, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balmer
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate